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JRTDTC1EIR.S MEMKCAIL. TOJLILIffiC&JE 



»N 



INAUGURAL DISCOURSE, 



SING OF 



RUTGERS MEDICAL COLLEGE, 



cm of m:\v-york. 



El day <>f November, 1826 



D \\ ID HOS w K Ml), r us. 

of t*e Mcd»c»l Ffrealtjr of Ratfen College, ProfoMor f.i 
tiee of PbjBie ud Hinical Medicine, *c. 



NEW-TOR] 



Kl K.KUS COLLEGE, 



/• U / i.T) OF iRTS, 
Etar. PHILIP MILLEDOLER, D. D. 

Ptm>1< '.*'&\ nn.l Prol M !' nj, and «l> 

i i I 

JOHN m: w ITT, n. D. 

r.-. | ....: ,.i li< ,.» Lsdna, B ■ n • of Criii< iim and Logic 

tar. .1 LMES 3. < kNNON, i>. I>. 

V i 

r U>B \iv 1. 1.. I). 

Profcaeor of Maihrmatiri and Natural I 

i '• ■ •■ - • I .... - - 

— MII.I.H. \V 

Rector of the Grammar School attar' , ■ • . 



/ \( i Liv OF XEDICINE. 

i!) HOfi \< K. M. I). 

Prandeot of the Medical Facull 

BAM1 EL L MLK HILL. II I). I.I. I). 

WILLI WI J LMES M \r\|;\ L\. M. h. 

I \ll\ti\i; IIOTT, M.i>. 
N IS, M. D. 

frofeMHM of Obrtetnca and Fot«r.« M 

JOHN i> GODM \v M. I. 

P mft w m afAmtamj and Ftp.- 

m\1. LI 

iMMM "( ( MMMfeJ 

1) 



At i numerous Meeting of the Students of Medicine, hold 
in the Hall of the Now College, in Duane-street, tins day. 
James B. li'Gill was called to the chair, and Alwyn Bdgart 
appointed Secretary. The object v\ the Meeting being stated, 
viz. to i \; Bense of the Medical Students, on the pro- 

priety of supporting this new College, a committee of three 
ippointed by the Chair, consisting of .Messrs. Burnham, 
a, and Borrowe, who submitted the following resolutions, 
which were unanimously adopted. 

Resolved, That ire have listened with deep interest and peculiar 
notion to the learned and eloquent Discourse of the President 
of the Medical Faculty of Rutgers College, and that the sentiments 
therein naprosand meet with our entire concurrence. 

Resolved, That the public-spirited and patriotic exertions of the 
■on t'f Rntgen Medical College, erecting- at their own ex- 
pense, and upon their own responsibility, this beautiful and conve- 
nient edifice, for the accommodation of students attending- this school, 
demand the expression of our gratitude, and receive our highest 
approbation. 

/.' '. That we have the utmost confidence in the integrity, 

abilities, and learning of the Professors of this Institution. 

Resolved, That the organization of this new Institution, unfettered 
M iirihmt controlling powers, is in our estimation, calculated to 
! the means of medical education, and to advance the honor and 
respectability of the p r ofe ssi on. 

Re* I t ire avail ouraelres of this occasion to express our 

grateful acknowledgment! to the learned President and enlightened 
Trastaei of Rutgers College, New-Brunswick, for the opportunity 
they have afforded us of itfll profiting b\ the experience and learning 
of the abb i they bai e aeli cU d as their medical faculty. 

Rc> thanks of the meeting be presented to Dr. 

Hosack for his I ress, and thai a committee be appointed to 

requests oopj for publication, an. I that Messrs. \ an Zandt, v*roome, 
Wood, Morton, and i b committee. 

Resolved, That the pror i it.,- Meeting \a ligned by the 

raaafl and \ and published in the dailj pap 

.1 IMEfl B. M ■GILL, Chairman. 
\lw | \ DOG IB i 



To David HotACK, M. T>. President of the .Medical Faculty of 

Rtdgert Colli ; 
Sir, 

\- r\ Committee of the Students of Rutgers Medical Col- 
lege, we have the honor of enclosing to you their unanimous resolves, 
that a copy of your introductory Address, pronounced on the 7th 
instant, be requested for publication. 

The incontestable evidences of gratification evinced by the 
very numerous and highly respectable audience who listeucd to 
you. and the satisfaction that we ourselves experienced, impel us to 
urge that you will not hesitate to grant us the privilege of extend- 
ing by memnf of the press, that pleasure to all such as by reason of 
the throng were precluded from its enjoyment 

P. D. VROOM, 
V. ST. JOHN, 

.IAS. M. WOOD, 
H. MORTON, 
CHAS. VAN ZANDT. 

tfcxr- York, November 10, 1826. 



To P. D. VnoOBf, V. St. John, Jas. M. Wood, H. Morton, and 
C ■ UU U \ n Zandt, Committee of the Students of Rutgers 

Coir 

■TN, 

As the subject of the Discourse, of which you 
have req u es t ed a copy lor publication, is one of deep interest, not 
cnly as it relates to the condition of medical education in the city 
and state I >rk, but as it regards the progress of medical 

•ce throughout the Union, I comply with your request, with 
the hone that tt ick this IddreM contains, may receive the 

ion, and of the constituted 
autl. ite who maj have cognizance of the subject to 

which they relate. 

I bei' I tUemeo, m accept for yourselfes my grateful ac- 
knowledgments for tfae hind and flattering manner in which you 
have com:. Btiona of the Students whom yon rc- 

Respectfully va 

DAVID BOSA< K. 

A«c- York, November 10, lo 



INAUGURAL DISCOl fRSE 



ii lito Studi m> "i M i iM< i\r. 

^ e arc assembled on this occasion to dedicate 

a new Temple to Medical Science. Having 

dissolved our connexion with another instituv 

. we have andertaken to establish a new 

foundation, under circumstances, we trust, more 

-i'ul cultii ation of medical 
studies, than we have heretofore enjoyed. 

under the restraints <>t" rivals 
in the [' . em ioua of our prosperity ; no 

:• progress bj a board of 

control; bul happilj lefl to our own judgment 

i . to din cl ii- how far, and in 

nine*, ur r :n h. - Her instruction ic 

the branch* n huh we hai e de- 

tbour of our In e , we are mel to in- 

llh 

.a the principle 



10 

of tlio healing art, and, when qualified, may re- 
ceive, without impediment, the appropriate evi- 
dence- of their abilities and attainments, and 
tli<>-< professional honours to which they are 

entitled. 

In the constitution of this establishment, it is 
also proposed, as the result of long experience 
and observation, and as conformable to the usage 
of the most distinguished medical schools of our 
country, that the professors of the different de- 
partments, who are necessarily, from their func- 
tions, the most competent to estimate the merit 
of their pupils, and who are the persons most 
deeply interested in the preservation, the im- 
provement, and reputation of the institution, 
shall be the exclusive judges to ascertain and 
decide upon the qualifications of the candidates 
for medical honours; and that it shall be the 
duty of such board of professors, to designate 
those who may be found worthy, and to refuse 
admission to those who are ignorant of their 
profession, and consequently undeserving public 
confidence. 

Hut. it will be asked, does not the present 
Medical School already chartered by the Re- 



11 

gents of the University, endowed ami supported 
by the liberalitj of the state, contain in its organ 
nizition the provisions referred to? and the Be- 
euritj to Bocietj that none are admitted to the 
■ -in--, or to the practice of that important 
profession, i>ui those nn In* arc dulj qualified? 
Truth compels me to declare, thai the charter 
of thai institution, with all the modifications it 
has undergone, is -till defective in those provi- 
ng that by the powers possessed h\ the 

nts, and those rested in the board of trus- 
bs thej bave been lately exercised, the 
tnunity, as will shortlj appear, is deprived 
of thai confidence in the -kill and abilities of 
the graduates of thai school, which the univer- 
Rtj i in- state bhould ever insure, and which, 
in the earlier years of its establishment, it fully 
enjoy* d. 

perience, painful experience, has taught us 

the necessity, as ivell as the expediency, of the 

*urcr- wi to adopt in the institution 

noi to be dedicated to medical instruction. The 

i experience has taught ha the evils that 

. boa the control that has hitherto 

. both bj the regents oi the oni- 



12 



versity, and by the hoard of trustees, over the 
former professors of the College «>t Physicians 
and Surgeons, and which is still continued 

cj to their successi 
The evils to which we refer, and of which we 

plain, in the cbartei of the College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons, and which have led to the 
feuds and dissentions that have distracted and 
dishonoured that institution, and have induced 
the Late professors to withdraw from that < 
blishment, and to organize a new school, arise 
from the controlling and conflicting powers ex- 
en ised over the pro essors,by the regents of the 
university on the one hand, and by another and 

trate board of trustees, appointed at the 
pleasure of the regents. 

The difficult} of Berving two masters was 

er more painfull) experienced, than by the 
late board of professors, under the anomalous 

eminent exercised bj the regents, and the 
undue influence and control usurped by the 
trustees <>f the college. 

T<> the former we object, that the regents from 
their residence at the seat of government, their 



19 

I distance from the citj of New-York, the 
diffi !•(•!;! nature of theii pursuits, their unceas- 
ipation in the offices of Btate, which the 
majority of them hold, and other circumstances 
ii might be enumerated, disqualify them 
details of the lion ernment 
e hundred and fiftj miles distant, 
and thereby render them incompetent to pro- 
nounce upon the qualifications of candidates 

>urs, and who hai e never 
i under their cognizance. 
Id like manner, we equallj protesl against the 
• d sup n ision and controlling po^i er, 
bas recentl) been, bj a board of 
trust< mposed exclusively <>!' physicians. 

i I medicine, hai ing the passions 

i. w nil or n ithool the competent 
ibilities »<> perform the duties of 
to w hich tin 3 aspire, are naturally 
ami tain the same places, prh il< 

. and h< j ed bj the pn 

! m possible, th( i\ under the 

I judg< ■ : 
.ikI qualification oi the 



14 

pupils of their supposed rivals, the professors, — 
they cannot become passive spectators, and wit- 
ness the pecuniary prosperity, the reputation 
and emoluments of the professors, without the 
desire of participating in those honours and 
those emoluments. It is inconsistent with the 
natural desires of the human heart that it should 
be otherwise. 

The committee, of which Lieutenant Governor 
Tallmadge was chairman, appointed by the re- 
gents to visit the College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons, for the purpose of investigating the con- 
troversy between the trustees and professors, 
very early perceived this to be the true source of 
that controversy; they accordingly remark, in 
their able report on this subject, "in this rivalry 
in medical science may be traced some of those 
latent causes from which may have proceeded 
those contentions and feuds, which have hitherto 
attended the progress of this college, and which 
but too evidently yet exist between the profes- 
sors and trustees.*" 



* Sec Report, p. 6. 



\5 

But you ^hall soon Bee, gentlemen, that these 
causes are no longer Intent, as the committee arc 
pleased to denominate them — they are manifest 

a- the day — they shall be disclosed before we 
part. 

A retrospect of the progress of medical edu- 
cation — :i -ketch of the medical schools of 
New- York) and the circumstances which have 
ultimately induced the late professors of the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons to dissolve 
their connection with that institution, and to 
prosecute their labours under new and, it is 
hoped, more favourable auspices, — I trust will at 
Ibis time net he out of place, or uninteresting to 
those who feel a regard for the education of 
youth, or for the honour and interest of our city 

and -late. 

Our country in general was originally settled 
b] emigrants from an enlightened nation, who 
bmiiL r lit with them an inextinguishable ardour 
for learning, and great zeal for its promotion. 
i in our own State, commerce was the more 
immediate eau-e and occasion of itfl settlement: 
tin-, added to the diversity of language of the 
i« DS* greatly marred and impeded the 



16 

progress of loiters that otherwise might have 
been expected, fears passed away without any 
public provision being made for the purposes of 
education, until the year l7o(>, when the libera- 
lity of the mother country endowed King's, now 
Columbia College, in this city. 

Since that auspicious even!, a slow but gradual 
increase in attachment to science and literature 
has been manifested among us; and, under the 
protecting care of enlightened counsels, cannot 
fail to extend itself throughout our land. 

By the introduction of common schools, our 
people are furnished with every means of im- 
provement in all the subordinate branches of 
knowlfMliro ; and the success which has attended 
the attempt, is alike honourable to the wisdom 
which projected this measure, and the good 
sense which availed itself of the blessings it 
afforded. 

As it regards the profession to which we belong, 
we find even ;»t an early period of the last cen- 
Inrv. many distinguished physicians among us, 
either natives of the country, or emigrants with 
the first colonists. Of those most conspicuous 
in the discharge of the active duties of practice 



17 

in the healing art. wc may mention Dubois, Du- 
pe> . Xicholl. C olden, Macgrath, Ogden, and the 
late Dr. John Bard, of this city. The firs! at- 
tempt, however, for the purpose of imparting 
medical instruction in this country, bj the dis- 
Bection of the human body, was made in the 
city of New-York as early as the year 1750, by 
two eminent medical men, Dr. John Bard and 
Dr. Peter Middleton. In 1756 the first course 
of lecture-, professedly so, on anatomy and sur- 
delivered at Rhode Island, by Dr. 
\Vm. Hunter, a Scotch physician, who had been 
cated at the University of Edinburgh, and 
the father of the distinguished senator in con- 
38, from that state. 

In 1768 a medical school was organized under 
the direction and government of the college of 
the province of New-York, then called King's 

College, and a board of professors appointed to 

: i the several branches of medical science. 
The instructors in this early school were Samuel 
1 -py. M.I ). Plot '-mi- oi Anatomy: John Jones, 
Professor of Surgery; Peter Middleton, M. D. 
i >r of Physiology and Pathology; Jamei 

th, M. D. Pi of Chemistry and Mat 

9 



18 

Medica ; John Y r . B. Tenncnt, M. D. Professor of 
Midwifery; and Samuel Hard, M. D. Professor 
of the Theory and Practice of Physic. On all 
these branches lectures were regularly given, and 
the degrees of Bachelor and Doctor of Medicine 
were conferred by the college. The Reverend 
Dr. Miller, in his valuable Retrospect of the 
Eighteenth Century remarks, that no degrees in 
medicine were conferred by this college, pre- 
vious to the revolutionary war ; but, in this in- 
stance, an error is committed by that eminent 
and usually accurate writer; for in 1769 the 
degree of Bachelor in Medicine w r as conferred 
upon Samuel Kissam and Robert Tucker. In 
1770 the degree of Doctor of Medicine was 
conferred upon the last mentioned physician, 
and in May of the succeeding year the same 
degree was conferred upon the former.* 

A copy of an Inaugural Dissertation on the 
Anthelmintic quality of the " Phaseolus Zura- 
tensis. siliqua hirsuta," or Cow Itch, for the me- 
dical doctorate in King's College, by Samuel 
Kissam, M. B. and published in May 177J, may 

* See Appendix. 



19 

een IB the library of the New-York Histori- 
cal Society. 

Dr. Sewall, in his excellent Introductory Lec- 
ture, delivered at the opening of the Medical 
School of Columbia College. District of Colum- 

is also in error in bis statement relative to 
the first medical degrees conferred in the colo- 
nies, now the United States. In the Discourse 
referred to, he date- the first medical degrees as 
conferred at the commencement held in Philadel- 
phia, in Juno 1771 ' — whereas the doctorate had 
been previously conferred in the month of May, 
of the preceding year, in the city of New- York. 
The same error has been committed by Doctor 
Thacher, in the now edition of his Modern Prac- 
tice, recently published. 

I have on a former public occasion! observed, 

thnt at the eonmieneoinont held in Kind's Col- 
lege, in 1760) a \er\ important addition was 
made to the means of medical instruction in this 

. in consequence of an Address delivered by 
lite Dr. Samuel Bard, in behalf of the esta- 
blishment of the New-York Hospital. 

* Sec Sewall'i !>■ tad i diUon, p. 

' >< < ■ .Mi Vol. i. i». 12. 



20 

- The necessity and usefulness of a public in- 
firmafj," to use the language of Dr. Middleton, 

"Were BO warmly and pathetically Bel forth in 

that memorable discourse, that upon the same 
day on which it was delivered, a subscription 
Was commenced by his Excellency Sir Henry 
Moore, then Governor of the province, and the 
sum of C800 sterling, collected for that esta- 
blishment." The institution of the Medical 
School of New-York, thus early organized, and 
embracing in itself talents of a high order in 
the several branches of science, was hailed a& 
an occurrence auspicious to the most favourable 
results. But all these advantages were inter- 
rupted, and the labours of the professors after a 
few years, entirely suspended by the revolution- 
ary war. 

The return of peace, in 1783, brought no re- 
turn of professors as a body to their former situ- 
ation-. Although the regents of the university 
attempted, in the following year, to revive the 
medical school by the appointment of profes- 
sors, the gentlemen so appointed either did not 
perform the duties assigned them, or they did it 
in such an imperfect manner, that the institution 



21 
very soon terminated its abort ami feeble exist" 

OIK 

Medical instruction however, shortly after this 
d in New-York, was imparted by private 
here, the Faculty of Medicine, which had ex- 
prior to the revolutionary war, not having 
j i i tnized. Nevertheless, iho pupils 

I : opportunities of becoming well instructed 
in all the great practical branches of a medical 
education. At that time courses of lectures 
delivered bj Dr. Richard Bayley and Dr. 
_hi Post, upon anatomy and surgery; Dr. 
Nicholas Romayne lectured upon the practice 
of physic, materia medica, botany, and chemistry* 
J)r. Samuel Bard delivered an excellent prac- 
tical course of instruction upon obstetrics and 

■ - Of Women and children. At the 

e time too, the Aim- House, then located in 
citj of New-York, was attended by \)v. 
I; Dr. Benjamin Kissam, and by \h\ 

William Moore a- physicians, and by Dr. Pott 
as surgeon of the establishment 4 I nder their 
unit' | w ;i- rendered a profit- 

able school of medicine and Surgery, while the 



u 

sick recc'ned the benefit- of physicians distin- 
guished lor their abilities and education, and by 
whom tbej were attended in rotation. The sick 
Were visited dailj al a Btated hour — their cases 

were regnlarU recorded. and the prescriptions 
from day to day entered in a book kept for that 
purpose by the attending clerk, in the manner 
pursued in the infirmary of Edinburgh. Their 
- were afterwards made the subject of cli- 
me ,d lectures, delivered by the physicians in 
attendance. 

In 1788 and 1789 I attended those several 
courses of instruction, and the lectures delivered 
on the cased occurring in the Alms House, when 
the last mentioned gentlemen were in attend- 
ance, and who delivered a valuable course of 
clinical practice. 

King's College, which at the close of the war 
received the name of Columbia College, having 
Undergone an alteration in its government, the 
Hon. Win. Samuel Johnson, LL. 1). son of the first 
President, was appointed to preside over it. As 
a school of arts it had acquired a distinguished 
renown, and among its alumni during its colonial 
condition, it were easy to enumerate, as it re- 



garda < 1 nrical learning, many of the most ac- 
complished scholars of the Country. I need 

celj enumerate to this audience the names 
of (tichard Sanson', John Jay, Samuel Provost, 
Philip Livingston, and others, 

The trustees of Columbia CoHege now laud- 
ably a ttempted again to connect a medical 

ol with their institution; thus forming, tin- 
der one superintending care, two faculties de- 
i Facultj of \rN. and a Faculty of 

licme. The organization of the tatter de- 
I in. lit was completed in 179:2. I shall never 

t the ardent feelings which I experienced 
i. iii the month of August ol' that year. 1 
reyed the first account of the revival of a 
Heal school in New- York, to mj friend Dr. 
Edinburgh, and which Was published 
by him in tin- volume ,.i' in- Commentaries lor 
tr. A- several gentlemen of acknow- 
ledged Worth ami talents Were thus enli-ted.it 

was hoped that the celebrity which had been 

1 in that colli ge at ;• school of 

rior to rolution, would again 

.I oi medical science. 

■ .ih/< -I may 

of Pacta 



24 

which hare been obtained from the records of 
that college. Prom the year 1792 to 1810-11, 
the total number of medical Btudents attending 
the Beveral courses was 823. During the whole 
of thi> period the highest number of students 
attending the lecture- at any one Bession was 65, 
the lowest 21. The number of graduates who 
received the degree of Doctor of Medicine 
during all this time of 18 years, was 34! At 
five different seasons there was none— twice there 
was one — hut at one term, and that only the first 
year alter the college was organized, the num- 
ber amounted to live. 

During the same period of time the number 
of student- attending the lectures at the medical 
school of Philadelphia varied each year from 
t\\<> hundred to lour hundred. At the last year 
of Columbia College, in 1810, when the number 
of this establishment was 64, no less than 450 
attended the medical school of Philadelphia, 
and of that number upwards of 00 received the 
degree of Doctor of Medicine. Such are the 

beta relative to the Medical Faculty which once 

had ;m existence in Columbia College.* 

• See Appendix. 



to 

-In 1791, Jail. nth. Dr. Nicholas Romayne 

sented ;i memorial to the regents, (represent^ 

_ that fir had established ;i medical Bchool in 

citj of New- York, and requested the regents 

to take the institution under their protection.* 

*On the 28th of January, a report was made 

committee of the regents in favour of the 

memorial, and the regents thereupon appointed 

munittee of their body to vi>it the tnstitu- 

" On the 23rd February, in the same year, Sir 
jr, knight, Nicholas Romayne, and others, 
t petition to the regents, praying to 
d ;»- ;i Toll, ge of Physicians.^ 
•• \ counter memorial or remonstrance, iras ;it 
presented, signed by John Bard, 
idenl : .infiii Charlton, Vice-President; and 
- Till \. of the Medical Society 

k. in behalf of »aid soch ty, 
be third of March, 1791, the regents 
appro* .1 of tl iblishmenl of a Me Heal 

Coll< ge, m applied for; hut having doubt of 



*■•• i t £< I :. '•lid l\ 

idix. 
4 



26 

their power, resolved to apply to the Legislature 
for further authority.* 

*• 1791, March 24th. The Legislature having 
I ed an act, empowering the regents to esta- 
blish a College of Physicians and Surgeons in 
this Btate, the regents thereupon determined to es- 
tablish one, and directed a charter to be drawn. 

" 1792. February 8th. The trustees of Colum- 
bia College made a representation to the re- 
gents respecting a Medical School, and the 
tnts appointed a committee to confer with 
them on the subject 

"February 15th. The committee of the re- 
gents, appointed as above, reported, that they 
had conferred with a committee of the trustees 
of Columbia College, and had learned from 
them, that they were actually engaged in esta- 
blishing a medical department in their college, 
bly to their charter: and that they re- 
quested the regent spend any further pro- 

the matter, until they should sec the 
BUC4 titution projected by the said 

trust* es of Columbia College/f 

Appendix. \ See Appendix. 



H 

"This request seems to have been acceded 

to h\ the regents, and the subject remained un- 

.:. experiment of the trustees of Columbia 

Coll 

•• 1807, March 3rd, at the - tion of Or. 

trial was presented by the 

>f the count] s •< -York. 

corporation by the rem nts of 

of Physi ind Surgeons. 

M T sented to the objects prayed 

for in t ; tnd directed a charter to 

*• 1807, March 12th, he regents granted a char- 
Medical Society of 
i ( lollege of Physicians and Sur- 
in which all the members of -aid society, 
.ill the pli; borized i<> practice in 

i !.c trustees, or mem- 
the aa and are dulj incorpo- 

ch. 

I a full n serration to 
1 i< I ' bar- 
be trustees, 

or B 

I 



28 

'•The regents retained the- appointment of the 
professors, and the trustees had the appoint- 
ment of their own president and other officers. 

" 1807, April :3rd, the regents appointed the 
professors for the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, and the college was fully organized. 
The trustees consisting of one hundred and one 
practitioners in medicine."* 

That so many years elapsed, from 1791 to 
1807. before the regents determined upon the 
expediency of forming an institution, to be ex- 
clusively devoted to medical instruction, appears 
to have been on account of the medical school 
of Columbia College, which, it was hoped, would 
have superseded the necessity of another medi- 
cal establishment. 

It need scarcely be observed that the exercise 
of this long dormant power possessed by the 
regents of organizing a College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, was hailed as most auspicious to the 
cause of medical learning in this great and in- 
creasing state and country. 



Report of Lieut. -Gov. Tallmadgc. — Also Appendix. 



The several professors entered on their re- 
spective duties with corresponding zeal, and 
their efforts were crowned with entire success. 
The first session of the college was honoured 
with fifty-three students attending the several 
class< s. 

About this time. 1808, the regents, on appli- 
cation of the trustees themselves, amended the 
charter of the college, so as to vest the ap- 
tment of the president and other officers in 
(he regents instead of the trustees. We thus 
eive even at this early period, the dawning 
of those evils which are incident to a medical 
board of trustees, and which ultimately led to 
those contentions and disputes which have 
marked the history of the college. Time does 
permit us at present to oiler more than 
genera] remarks upon the state of the institu- 
tion at this period. 

The lectures in the second session of the col- 
lege were attended bj seventy-two -indent-, a 
number than had ever before resorted to 

this citj I term fur medical knowledge. 

third session opened under -till mure fa- 



30 

Certain misunderstandings, bowever, havi 
taken place between the president, Doctor Ro- 
mayne, and the pn "s, the rapid progn 

the college receii i Some 

of the professors withdrew from the college; 
lectures were delivered on only particular 
branches, and the pupils were again reduced to 
one-third of their former number. 

This condition of things being made known 
to the regents, they, with a view of removing 
dissentions, forthwith convened and took into 
consideration the several complaints that had 
been preferred. The committee consisted of 
the Hon. the Chief Justice Kent, Judge Spencer, 
and Judge Thompson. With characteristic firm- 
ness and promptitude, this enlightened tribunal 
reported on the various matters submitted to 
them. 

I am constrained to read the report at this 
time, because <>f the important change which it 
effected in behalf of the college; and especially 
as it laid the foundation of that beneficial revo- 
lution in the institution, from which we dale ten 
of successive prosperity, and which had 
continued to this hour, but from that ill-advised 



91 

. which was afterwards adopted, of fill- 
_ j. the board of trustee - wiin medical men, 
•• \i a in i ){ the i of the nun er- 

>iu . to adjournment, in the Senate 

r. on the Ia1 of April, 181 1 : 
•• The i * horn h as referred seve- 

ral j' state of the ( lolleg 

in th<* city of New- 
unfortunate misunderstand- 
• i mi Be\ eral pro 
thai institution, which have already 
1 it- operations, and unless 
sonv i be done bj the regents, it 

will become degraded in t h« - estimation of the 
pub will be inei itablj de- 

e to trace and 

I the condu< of individuals, be- 

opinion, it would be both useless 

•• J ' ide to the commit- 

in, h ith a i iew of 
f in- 
i the pi of the 



medical school in Columbia College; ami other 
eminent and distinguished individuals; this pro- 
poeition has been riewed by the committee in 
Kfae most favourable light, as it maj extinguish 
the feuds existing among the present professors 
of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and 
as it will, in all probability, be the means of 
uniting the two school-. 

"The latter appears an object of the first im- 
portance, inasmuch as it will assemble, in one 
institution, a Bplendid collection of medical and 
surgical talents, and it cannot fail to merit and 
receive the patronage and encouragement of the 
legislature. 

"It is unnecessary for the committee to attempt 
to display the important advantages to the state 
which a well organized medical school in the 
citv of New-York must afford. Its hospital, 
and the BubjectS furnished by the Btate prison, 
without the violation of law. present a field for 

the acquisition of medical and surgical know- 
ledge, unrivalled in the United States, and if h 
only requisite to establish an institution under 

the fostering care of the legislature, in which 



shall be united ilu best talents, and to secure 
1\ ;mi iges to the stated ' 
In Maj of this, year, the fire! medical com- 
mencemenl vraa held in the college, and eight 
admitted to the doctorate. \ greater 
number than bad ever before, al am on$com- 
i«-iii in N<\\ \ oik. been \ ested * ith nae- 
nended charter, \n hied ire 
r this time recen ed, placed the \ e- 
ible Dr. Samuel Bard at the bead of the 
I arranged the sei eral professorships 
r aa i«i embrace an entire nen 
il Instruction. 
In 1813 tl l( _< of phj siciana and Bur- 

in <i bigb rned 

an union with the faculty of physic of Colui ibia 
Colli 

\ < - ; nedical school 

bardlj 
be ol our institution was placed on 

a foundation which aflbrd< d ndvanl 

ous on in <-\ < rj departmei 

.'cons, 8\ 
wid Philo»opl. 



34 

the profession. In March of 1814, the commit- 
tee of the regents, to whom iras referred the 
annual report of the College of Physicians and 

Surgeons, reported, that an anion had taken 

place between the medical department of Co- 
lumbia College and the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons, and that in consequence of this 
union the trustees of Columhia College had 
abolished the faculty of medicine in their insti- 
tution.* 

I shall take no notice of the inefficient and 
unsuccessful attempts at the formation of ano- 
ther medical institution in this city, about this 
period ; its duration was short, and it fell in its 
own weakness. 

The seven subsequent years may be fairly 
Considered the flourishing period of our late 
college — every year added to its means of in- 
struction — the number of its students rapidly 
in< reased with the opening of each session, and 
the high reputation of the New-York University 
WBB recognised in every portion of the Union. 
The class room was occupied with upwards of 

* Sec Appendix. 



3;> 

hundred students, — the language of the re- 
gents, in their annual reports to the legislature, 
breathed the mos( flattering expressions of ap- 
probation in behalf of the talents and seal of 
the professors, and the substantial attainments 
of thfc scholars thai had beeo committed to their 

«■.• 

Hut the college iras now destined to encounter 

other difficulties. The elements of discord and 
discontent irere again summoned in the service 

of opposition. Some were discontented bj rea- 
of the prosperitj of men with whom they 

been unable to maintain a successful com- 

ind others won- of opinion that the 

chairs of the professors might be more conve- 

tly filled by themseli • 

8 Mir. in their individual capacity, from their 

ttc propensity to mis* hi* f. and in which they 

still persist, enlisted in the hostile hand, and 

others combined as confederates of certaip 

medical Miririir-. The charges created :ii::ii iwt 

tin- | i not i lew . and wen- arraj <d 

with all the formality ofnumeroui specifications 

• See Append.*. 



M 

It was declared that the professors had vio- 
lated the biWs of the regents by exacting inordi- 
nate Ires for their services; that those who held 
joint professorships, or taught two or more 
branches, had demanded double compensation; 
that the professors had abused the confidence of 
the regents by recommending for degrees unqua- 
lified persons ; and that dissentions and dis- 
cordant interests existed in the college. These 
were the charges. I need not trace the grounds 
upon which they were attempted to be esta- 
blished ; nor exhibit the various means employed 
with a view to give to them the semblance 
of truth. The documentary evidence, which 
had been raked together from every kennel, and 
which accompanied the slanders, was indeed 
voluminous. 

Whether our accusers, in all these measures, 
were actuated by a disinterested desire to effect 
a salutary reform in the condition of medical 
learning, or whether their deeds were done in 
the spirit of intimidation, must be left for you to 
determine. But 1 may be permitted to state an 
occurrence from which all of you may be en- 
abled to come to a correct and impartial deci- 



37 

-ion aft to the motives and objects which consti- 
tuted the first Bpring that Bel in motion the hos- 
tility we have encountered. 

\i ;i late hour of the evening, preceding the 
da] • * hen those memorable dispatches were to 
i m to their place of destination, to be pre- 
i d to the State Medical Society, and thence 
to tin- regents of the university, I was visited by 
>f those prime ministers of mischief, to whom 
I re alreadj alluded, as behind the curtain 
ipon men of unsuspecting minds, but 
purer views: I received him \% i 1 1 1 civility and 
kindm ss, He informed me of the nature of the 
dispatches thai had been prepared, that weretd 
ransmitted to Albany the succeeding morn- 
butthat he thought it was not yet too late to 
eflfi < I b reconciliation between the members of 
tin- . ion and the professors of the college^ 

and a luppression of those documents that had 
collected. I listened m ith attention, 
invited the disclosure of the circumstances, 
which might propitiate the ire ttf our enei 

irmonj to the conflicting parties, 

I \s a it die propositions \\ hich 

the price of the peace then 



38 

offered, and of the truce to the opposition we 
had endured. 

You, however, gentlemen, will be surprised 
when you are informed of the conditions of the 
proffered treaty. 

They were to be, 1st, — The abandonment on 
my part of one of the departments I then held 
in the college, in favour of the modest gentle- 
man himself then addressing me. Secondly, — 
that another member of the then board of pro- 
fessors should also withdraw, and his place be 
filled by another of the hostile fraternity ! 

The reply to these conditions may be readily 
anticipated : suffice it to remark they were re- 
jected, with a declaration on my part that they 
would be resisted by every exertion in my power, 
and that of my colleagues — that the admission 
of himself or his friend into the college, but in 
which they are now honourably provided for, 
should be opposed at every step. 

Such, gentlemen, arc the facts. Duty calls 
for this disclosure. This is the secret key which 
unlocks the door that presents to your view the 
concealed but interested agents exciting the 
hostility to the late professors of that institution, 



30 

ami which, in connexion with the intrigues after- 
wards resorted t<>. led them to withdraw from 

their Stations, and to Organise another institu- 
tion, in which they may prosecute their labours 
undisturbed by the ambition, the envy, or 
loasj of professional rivals. 

On the succeeding morning the documents re- 
ferred to. containing all the charges and speci- 
fications which could he collected, or fabricated, 
by our foes, wen -ent to certain members of 
State Medical Society. 

The whole of the budget of grievances which 
had been made op was assigned by our com- 
plainants to suitable ;tu r< '"t-. and by them sub- 
• 1 to the board of regents at Albany. In 
then- vindication of themselves against such foul 
and malignant aspersions, the professors with 

the fullest assurance of their innocence, de- 
clared most explicitly thai <>t* these charges thus 
i in d. some irere absolutelj fake, other- dis- 
torted or exaggerated, and all -set down in 
main Lei rne ask, Gentlemen, what irai the 

re-nit. The profc^op*. conscious <>! their own 
D d reposing confidence in the tribu- 



JO 

nal before which thej were arraigned, antici- 
pated the issue. 

The committee to whom the business was re- 
ferred, after the fullest deliberation, rejected the 
whole as altogether untenable. 4 

Complete as was thi> triumph to tin* professors* 
yet at thi> session of the board of regents a 
measure, probablj intended for the purpose of 
accommodation was adopted, most ill conceived 
in it- design, and rnost disastrous in its conse- 
quent 

There had existed, for some time, a number of 
micks in the board of trustees of the college. 
Disappointed in their endeavours to obtain pro- 
rial distinction, our opponents now sought 
for the more bumble station of trustees, where, 
though they could do themselves no good, thej 
might he so situated as to do others much injury. 
1 am willing to believe that a very large propor- 
tion of the hoard of regents were not aware of 
the evils thej were about to inflict upon us, when 
they vielded to the importunities of those by 
whom they \\<tc besieged. 

Efc i Appendix. 



41 

By this net what was before a war from with- 
out doh be* ime a war within, and was waged 

with ch IStlC violei:. 

and after the memorable ides of March 

'. we, tb . date the decline and fall of 

of Pbj sicians and Surgeons. 
If it be naked, what was the actual -tatc and 

condition of the ( at this juncture, and 

[ - to the clamours which were thus created 

again-t it- professors.- I answer, thai the hoard 
filled, and in active operation, 
g with their I ertions and abilities 

their appointment The 
number of students who listened to their instruc- 
tion r, beyond all example, than had 
convened in the citj of New-York, 
:id only to the dical institution of 

ceifing a considerable 

Such i be accession of students 

<l ,lri i iod of our exemption 

i the government of ■ hoard of medical 

triMf-r-. thai v. , compelled to I the 

1 U'- edii ;/< . 

Thi of course could not be I Boded without 
6 



ifl expense: and yet this indispensable, vital 
appropriation, was converted by our opponents 
into a charge against us as a prodigal expendi- 
ture of public money, and as a waste of funds 
Specifically granted for the promotion of medical 
science. 

The fame of the College, at that time, had 
secured the attendance of candidates for medical 
knowledge from almost every section of the Ame- 
rican confederacy, and those who honoured us 
with a hearing, from time to time, with all the 
ingenuousness of youth, have borne their testi- 
mony to, and have publicly, through various 
channels, expressed their grateful acknowledg- 
ments for the benefits they had derived from the 
ample means of instruction with which they had 
been supplied. In this expression of gratitude 
not a single dissentient voice was heard.* A 
recurrence to the annual reports of the regents 
to the Legislature, even to the last year, I825,t 
inclusive, exhibits the state of the College, the 



* See Pupil »f thanks to the Professors in the 

American Medical and Philosophical Register, VoL ii. p. 463. 

Vol. iii. p. ee also the public Gazettes-. 

i»])Cii(Iix. 



incr MO&ber of its pupils, its prosperity, 

and g reputation* 

A reference moreover, to the annual reports 
of tin* trasteet themselves, hostile as they have 
been to the professors, incontesfobly establish 
the 3 attending their labours.* 

this prosperous condition of 
ilie ( might have been anticipated, from 

the recent additions made to the hoard of trus- 

ihe very men who had organized the op- 

1 which had boon countenanced by 

Medical Society, hot which the professors 

triumphantly resisted, we were destined 

i to additional turmoil : notwithstanding 

the late discomfiture of the enemy, their oppo- 

a to the professors was again rallied, under 

iise — th;it of introducing what they 

were pl< gentle term 

•• n 1 m.iv here I n i * • 1 1 % observe, that the 

- 1821-2-3 and i. were ahnosl unceasingly 

ipied b] I and extra meetings for the 

ses of considering •• the state of 

difion of its funds," •■ the 

and the lii.' 
* Sec A i 



41 

Although there was no ostensible new cause 
of complaint, it was at length seen fit to reiterate 
the old and exploded charges; and the better to 
secure their object, they varied the ground of 
accusation, and attempted a modification of the 
existing laws and practice concerning the exa- 
mination of candidates — the qualifications for 
the doctorate, and other matters which had been 
long since definitively settled by the ordinances 
of the regents themselves. 

This spirit of discontent proceeded so far, 
that it ended in a formal renewal of the same 
charges that in 1820 had been preferred to the 
board of regents. A committee, of which the 
venerable Col. Troup was chairman, was forth- 
with appointed to inquire into their validity, and 
an order passed by the hon. the regents, re- 
questing the several parties to appear before 
them, by their representatives, at their meeting 
to be held in Albany, in March 182.0. Accord- 
ingly the trustees by their agents, and on the part 
of the professors, two of that body, appeared. 
I had the honour to be one of that number : the 
committee, after the most patient attention to, 
and the severest examination of, the several 
points of inquiry, found, that not a single charge 



45 

could be substantiated. They made two reports 
which have hern pronounced eminently satisfac- 
tory to the friends of learning and science, and 
which were unanimously accepted, approved, 
and published by the board of regents, to the 
terror and dismay of an ignoble and sordid 
enemy.* 

Afl a further evidence that the regents were 
satisfied of the nullity of all that was said against 
the professors, the candidates forthedoctorate,as 
heretofore, had their degrees duly granted, agree- 
ably to the recommendation of the professors. 

In those reports, referring to the elevation to 
which the College had attained, notwithstanding 
the collisions that had taken place between its 
professors and trustees, the committee express 
ID the following terms of approba- 
tion, and which will show the condition of the 
itation, vrheo lately surrendered to the 
regents. 

" If any thing has occurred to mitigate the 

pain experienced by your committee, it was, thai 

the inquiry has fully established the important 
and consoling fact, thai the College, notwith- 



* See Appendix. 



10 

standing the unfortunate controversy, has risen 
Etch a Id iv eminence, as to stand at least on 
a level with the nio-l e( lehraied schools in the 
United States ; whether avc consider the learn- 
ing and skill of its professors, the number of its 
pupils, or the different parts of the world from 
which the pupils come." 

The committee then, expressing the patriotic 
wish that the College may maintain this lofty 
stand, and rise to greater height, justly observe, 
" that these happy events can never be looked 
for or realized, without union of sentiment, and 
concert of action, between the trustees of the 
college and its professors;" and well knowing 
the frailties of human nature, they proceed to 
observe, " that it is not uncommon for profes- 
sional men to view professional objects through 
different mediums, and that they thence become 
a fruitful source of different opinions, which, 
ned with angry passions, engender acrimo- 
nious and lasting disputes, that neither time, nor 
the attempt- of mutual friends can ever reconcile 
or remove."* 

The committee, possessing a full knowledge of 

* Sec Appendix. 



11 

the extent and character of the controversy that 

hail divided the professors and trustees, and 

, from the nature of it- Boarce already 

filiation of long continuance. 

or tl, iial understanding that i- necessary 

to r» ; nt labours beneficial to the 

institution or to the community, >\erc not to be 

looked itely suggested Hie propriety, 

and iii«l - -d upon the regents as an impe- 

tke an entire change in the 

and organisation of the College ; 

. what they denominate insupe- 

cles, in the way of that glorious inarch 

ch the CoM in- i<> be rapidly making 

M of reputation and usefulness. 

To obviate I evils which they deemed 

injuring to the honour of the stale, and to tin; 

cardinal inton stfl of lociety, the committee hit 

th< : d to the painful Recessil \ of 

< nl- N» reorganize the 

board of t: kg na entire change of the 

of the Celt 
by tbe i 

J I ce of th 'in- 



M 

mendation, and persuaded, as they express them- 
selves, that the regents were prepared to per- 
form the duty with all the fidelity called for by 
the critical situation of the College, and the high 
and responsible trust reposed in them, submitted 
to the consideration of the board the following 
resolutions : 

" 1st. That the charter of the said College be 
so amended as to interdict any future appoint- 
ment of practitioners to be trustees of said Col- 
lege ; and to provide for the appointment of no 
greater number than thirteen trustees to manage 
the affairs of the College : also, providing that 
the president and vice-president of the said 
College shall be ex-officio trustees, in order to 
preserve to the College that professional cha- 
racter which is indispensable to its prosperity 
and its fame. 

" 2nd. That immediately after the charter of 
the said College shall be amended as aforesaid, 
the board of regents will proceed to the choice 
of trustees to manage the affairs of the College." 

The committee, under the fullest conviction of 
the necessity and expediency of the measures 
just suggested, still further confirmed the pro- 



; | f the plan proposed, by the fact, thai the 
schools of our Bister -Liu 1 - are under 
the direction of gentlemen irho are not practi- 
in medicine, and thai this is a regulation 
Much experience elsewhere has Bhown to be 
luctive of \ erj salutarj effects, 
\ inbject <>t" complaint, brought by the 

trust tinst the professors, was thai of re- 

ing into their offices as prii .tic pupil-, those 
;it the same time in attendance upon the 
public lectures of the College ; and connected 
with tfii^ charge w is, th< nspicion that a de- 
ouritism bad been indulged towards 
such pi ipils, by winch thej were r I i In 

passed through th< lation, and recom- 

mended for degrees, when thej should not have 
beei bo idmitted or recomn* ded. 
In will be in place here to observe, that a 
Us with the profe all the 

thi co ,\ of 

Europe, of re- 
u- pupils, i«» whom 
Si of medical instruction, 
in the public lectui 

■ }•: with the i of the 



50 

medic*] school- of this state, a* weH as those of 
Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore. 

Daring the attendance of the pupil in the 
office of the professor, he enjoys the advantages 

of more detailed instruction, which he cannot 
obtain in the public lecture-room. The pupil is 
here privately interrogated upon every branch 
of bia professional study — he has access to the 
professor's library, which usually is, as it ought 
to be, much more extensive than that of the 
private practitioner : he also possesses the pri- 
vilege of witnessing the professors private prac- 
tice in the lower classes of society. 

In consequence of this attendance in the pri- 
vate office of the professors, it is also obvious 
that the attentive pupil not only becomes fami- 
liarly conversant with the numerous and va- 
rious subjects upon which he may be inter- 
rogated, but he thereby acquires a facility of 
reply, which, when he may have completed the 
course of study prescribed by the College, 
insure- his ready admittance to the honours of 
the profession. Could it have been supposed, 
thai thi- familial- acquaintance with the subjects 
upon >\hich he is to be examined, and his readi- 



51 

. of response, should have been made matter 
of complaint? On the contrary* ought not those 
I bets justify and recommend the practiced 
But the motives of those preferring Buch com- 
cannol be misunderstood, nor their mor- 
t i i m (lion concealed, thai while the offices of the 
m were filled bjp pupil- seeking inetruc- 
. sod availing themselves of the ample means 
of information provided bj the professors, their 
i ,. a irerc nearlj deserted, or only occu- 
I bj a fen students, corresponding in number 
with the scant] means provided lor their instruc- 
tion. 
The committee may well observes, that the 
intages thus enjoyed bv the pupil-, place 
in a more favourable situation for gaining 

knowledge than the pupil- who only attend the 

public lectures, Kir the latter can make nse of 
ther library than that of the College, and 

m'. ed "i ill opportunity of seeing the 

el medicine, except bo far ;i- i( i- exhi« 

! in the hospital in the city of New-York. 

i id. -.■ advantages a -mall addil onal too i~~ 

p. nd to the professor. That 

(vantages coodm i to die- advancement oi 



sa 

medical science, and give reputation to the Col- 
. was fullj acknowledged bj the committee! 
and of course, thej think a custom producing an 
efieel bo beneficial should be encouraged instead 
of being totally or partially prohibited. 

•• \ total or partial prohibition might indeed be 
proper, if the time devoted by the professors to 
the pupils in their offices, interfered with the 
time necessary to the due discharge of their 
duties as public lecturers, or if there existed any- 
ground for believing in the system of favouritism 
already noticed. 

"But your committee," says the report still 
further, u are happy to state, that not the least 
evidence has been offered to them by the trus- 
. nor have they insinuated that the professors 
have denied to the College any part of the time 
requisite to the faithful discharge of their public 
duties. And as it regards the system of favour- 
itism, the committee express their conviction, 
thai it is entirety without foundation.** 

It an a- certainly to have been expected, that a 
charge of this character and magnitude, imply- 



• Sec Appendix. 



59 

itj OD the pari of a board 

of pi re, to whom, I believe, the Blighted 

suspicion of Buch baseness bad never before 

ed, since the inundation of the Col- 

. would bave been sustained bya( least Borne 

1 aides the unworthy suspicions 

bj malignity. A charge of this 

uta al ited, if true, to blasl tin- ever the 

italion of the C " i > 1 1 < ^ « * . and to degrade its 

I Id ool pass unnoticed by the 

' • .to w bom thifl subject 

rdingly gave to it their most 

. 1 1 « • : i . demanding from each and all 

of the trustees then in attendance, and who had 

i the instruments in preferring the complaint, 

ih< proofs i hit the professors \iw<\. in any one 

< ' . l" iltj "i Bach violation of the 

d tins! ; • posed in them. 

W i the result of this demand, so pressed 

upon tho>e honourable plain- 

mi-' \nd irhal s/as the impression made upon 

i "minuter and the by-standers 

who had m itnessed the ini ion ? The most 

perfect acquittal of th the minds 

of t l iimixcd di 



51 

on the part of the hearers towards those who 
bad dared to give utterance t<> the unwarrant- 
able suspicions that had been expressed by the 
trustees. 

Hear the language of the committee in their 
report to the regents. u The serious tendency of 
the censure lias imposed the duty of examining 
the cause of it with careful attention; and it 
affords them particular pleasure to assure this 
board, that after such examination, they are 
convinced the cause is entirely without foun- 
dation."* 

But, gentlemen, our accusers are not to escape 
in this manner, by failing to establish the charges 
which they preferred against the professors. On 
the contrary, you will now find, by the facts I am 
about to relate, that the trustees in their hostility 
to the professors, have in several instances re- 
commended to the regents as qualified to receive 
the degree of doctor of medicine, pupils who 
had. after an examination by the professors, been 
by them unanimously rejected as unqualified for 
the practice of their profession, and unworthy of 

* See Appendix. 



55 

puHir « nee! yet in consequence of the 

trustees 1 recommendation, although previously 

pronounced by the professors as unqualified, and 

unworthj of public confidence, they were admit* 

ted by the regents ! In one instance, gentlemen, 

the prii ate pupil of one of the professors, indeed 

of linn who ii«»\\ addresses you, after every effort 

which friendship or duty could suggest had been 

made bo dissuade him from even presenting him* 

mM br examination, was unanimously rejected 

by the professors. Be then availed himself of 

the privilege allowed, of an appeal to the tras* 

. and of a second examination before that 

\. I.\ whom bis fate was to he decided. Af- 

'i unanimous rejection bj the professors, you 

will be surpri-cd to he told, thai he was admitted 

by this immaculate board of trustees as competent 

in bis profi ssion, and deserving the confidence of 

the community, bid the professors, consequently 

I i d m the painful situation <>i being com- 

I d. bj what i- i irtuallj a mandamus of the 

i to the competency <>i' the can* 

did annex their names to his diploma, 

at th< i time thai the) conscientiously be- 
lieved and had pronounced him (q be undeserv- 



56 

ing the honour, and privileges thereby granted. 
But you will still be more surprised, when you 
are told, that no instance has ever occurred in 
which such appeal has been made from the de- 
cision of the professors to the trustees, that the 
pupil has not been admitted ! 

Indeed, from the foundation of the College to 
the present day, not a single instance has occur- 
red where the professors have refused, upon 
examination, to recommend a candidate, that the 
trustees, when the appeal has been made to 
them, notwithstanding such refusal, have not 
approved of his attainments, and tendered his 
name to the regents for the highest distinction in 
the medical profession ! ! 

While on this subject I may be permitted to 
state, lest it might be supposed that every candi- 
date for the doctorate whom the professors 
rejected, was nevertheless, subsequently admit- 
ted to the honours of the profession, that many 
students so rejected remained satisfied with the 
decision pronounced by the professors as to their 
merits, and declined availing themselves of the 
privilege of an appeal. 



57 

This circumstance. which oftentimes occurred 
during the long professorial career of the 
hers of the College, is one which fortified 
them in thi< neeossaiy hut painful discharge of 
duty. And I may moreover observe, as cor- 
>rative of the impartial conduct of the 
faculty, that there never was a single instance 
of a rejection hy the trustees, after an exami- 
nation held hefnrethem. of any candidate whom 
the pc rfcjOOI l ha<l d< clared to he qualified. 

But there ;ire -everal cases, say the commit- 
tee, where the pupil- whom the professors, at 
their full tri;d-e\amiiiation. pronounced uncptali- 
fed, and have accordingly refused to hring he fore 

the board! af traatcee hr a second examination, 

made an appeal to that hoard, and heen 
all<»\\. «1 b WGOnd examination, which has resulted 
in the recommendation of them to the regents 
ford Col. Troup, the \euerahle chair- 

man, proceed-, - there was shown to \our eom- 
iiiittee ;i part ieula r in-lance. wherein a pupil 
Who had Im'h !i\( w, ir - in the ollice of a pro- 
fessor. and had lik< -wi-e ffgliailj attended t| JC 

public l'< tores, wbb deemed bj the profa 
dedlj unqualified (be a degree, and yei that 

8 



08 

very pupil was afterwards recommended by the 
board of trustees for a degree, and lie obtained 
it"! Is this, I ask, gentlemen, the favouritism 
of the professors? To you I appeal — to you I 

submit the inference and its application. 

Well may tbe committee observe, that " the 
conclusion tbey are bound to draw from the cir- 
cumstances above staled, is, that the suspicion 
of favouritism by the professors towards those 
public pupils who likewise enter their private 
office, is not entitled to the slightest notice from 
the regents." " And as the custom of taking 
public pupils into the private office of the pro- 
fessors does not appear to have been attended 
with any abuse, your committee are unable to 
assign an] reason why the custom should undergo 
the regulations of this board."* 

I might here, gentlemen, rest the defence of 
the professors. A further justification is tar- 
nished by the able and lucid report of Lieut. 
Gov. Talmadge, chairman of a committee subse- 
quently appointed by the regents to investigate 
the matters in controversy between the trustees 



See Appendix. 



M 

and pr<> ! a document BO ample. <o satU- 

r\. and bo well arranged, thai it almost 
Bap the necessity of applying to any 

other source of information for a history of the 
College or it- concerns. That committee eon- 
d of Lieut. Gov. Talmadge, the Hon. Ste- 
I \ hi Renssalaer, and Mr. Marcy the comp- 
troller. The committee, in their remarks upon 
proeperitj of the institution observe, that 
'• this College has been one <>t" the favourite in* 
tion9 of the Btate, and maj become one of 
it- proudest ornaments. The known talents a I 
brit) in medical science, of it- profess 
w ithin ;t few j ired this infant institu- 

'I n bile it h;»- become the just pride <>f 
th<- city in which it i- founded, it has been ena- 
ble d to hold an eminence in science at least 
I to similar institutions established in neigh- 
bouring citi< 

Of i ■ < oasion thej also in praise of 

this establishment remark, thai "the College has 

« tinned I perity, and baa re* 

amber of Btodentsj not* ithstanding 

other Medi( oofa bave Bld< 

blished in most of the otto i ; and one 



other in this state, denominated ' the Western 
College of Physicians andSwgej !'<> have 

Obtained itgelf against Etaobecn petition, i> proof 
of its in cr ea s ing strength ; and which is vet more 

cerlainh demonstrated by I reference lo kfl stu- 
dent-, which have been collected, not only from 
this state, but from most of the ether states, the 
Canada-, and even the West India Islands. The 
fame of the College as a Medical School, com- 
bining very many advantages for improvement 
in that department in science, has become widely 
extended, and from its importance, general uti- 
lity, and admitted facilities in education, it seems 
to have attained a high degree of eminence." 

" But," add the committee, " it will not be 
matter of surprise, that disagreements have 
arisen in the management of this College, be- 
tween the professors and the trustees and me- 
dical societies, when it shall be recollected those 
bodies are composed of practising physicians, 
and candidate- for the same patronage; and 
that most, or all of the trustees are al>o mem- 
bers, and many of them officers of the medical 

societies."* 

1 

3ee Appendix. 



The committer ha\ mg examined the complaint 

of the Irastees mintin g be the practice of the 

■■fc»»oi> in receiving winter popMs, and winch 
WH6 BO I 'mlentU oppOMd by the tresteOS, make 
the Mlowfag observations i •• An ordinance, for- 
bid. 1 . i- troin lakin^ • winter -tudent-/ 

Id infringe upon the rights offbe students to 

i in;ition w ith w lioiii they plea-c. The 
fM upon which thw ordinance is now rc- 

• I sgaiml the pro fceoo r o , might then be 

i ith equal force, k) have the same prohi- 
bition extended to the tru-iee-. who also have a 
upon the examination-. Such regulations 
would abridge tin- sppoftoriitieti of information 
to the -indent — would proscribe too large a por- 
tion of the medical talent of the city ; and would 
besp« tk an unreasonable and improper jca- 

lousy«.uhe re>p« el thle and honoiira hie -critic- 

who are prole— or- and tru-tee-. In the 

iinittee. the ordinance ought 

to be gtanl 
I cannot, a itboal tn og too nraefa upon 

your attention and kindness, notice the other 
detail - of their report Suffice it h> 

. that the e«,FJi atn r BOtlCUlg the 

the College, the t leration it had 



received from the labours of its professors, the 
great Dumber of pupils resorting to it from the 
various states of the union, as well as from 
other countries — the subsequent injury the 
College sustained from the appointment of me- 
dical trustees, observe : " In searching for reme- 
dies to secure harmony to this College, and to 
produce a greater unity of action in the members 
of its government, the committee are induced to 
recommend, that the several vacancies now ex- 
isting, and which shall hereafter happen in the 
board of trustees, shall be filled by distinguished 
gentlemen, who are not medical men, until they 
shall be equal in number to the medical trus- 
tees."* 

This report was unanimously accepted, but 
the regents finding themselves unable, by the 
provisions of the charter, their powers being 
restricted by the new constitution, made a com- 
munication to the legislature soliciting such 
power, to alter and amend the present charter 
of the College.! 



Sec Appendix. j Sec Appendix. 



63 

The report made by the committor was. ac- 
cordingly, also referred to the legislature, soli- 
citing it- interposition in the dilemma in which 
the regents found themselves placed. 

The regents, also, respectfully suggested that, 
in their opinion, it is essential to the honour of 
the College, and that it- future prosperity very 
much requires thai sufficient power and autho- 
rity to amend its charter, and from time to time 
to regulate it- concerns, -hould be either vested 
in (he regents, or remain with the legislature. 

Thi- communication was presented to the 
senate, and referred to t ho committee on litera- 
ture. The Hon. Mr. Spencer was the chairman 
of that committee. I pass oyer, on the present 
ision, the luminous, just, and pertinent obser- 
vations <»r that distinguished statesman, relative 
to the limit- prescribed to tin power of the re- 
•-. I»\ 'do new constitution.* Mr. Spencer 
introduce- hi- report with the preliminary obser- 
vation. that •• the communication of the regents 
documents submitted to your commit- 



* Sec Aj.; 



M 

tec, show, thai the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons of the citj of \ew\ ork 1 m at thi> time 

in ■ BOB( deplorable condition, unci that, w ithout 
somr prompt and effectual interference, that in- 
stitution an ill ho utterly destroyed, tho public 

property wasted and the objects of former legis- 
lative munificence, wholly disappointed. Your 
committee are alike strangers to the persons, 
interests, or views of any of the contending par- 
ties, and having no other motive than the public 
good, and the promotion of the best interests of 
medical science, tho feel it to be a solemn duty 
to state, distinctly and directly, the true circum- 
stances of the case, in order to exhibit the pro- 
priety and necessity of the remedy they mean to 
propose."" 

"The cause of these differences," says Mr. 
Spencer, M is to be found in a radical error ill 
the organization of the College. The trustees 
-eem to be placed there for no earthly purpose, 
bat to Superintend funds to which they in no way 
contribute, and to recommend for degrees, pupils 
whom they do not instruct. In the exercise of 
the last duty, a fall opportunity is given for the 
indulgence of those feelings of rivalship and 



•>\. for irhicb the medical profession is unr 
fbrtunatelj somewhat distinguished, wi which 
led and Fomented by the greater repu- 
tation ami practice which the occupation of a 
r's chair gives to the incumbent, over 
trustees practising in the same sphere, who have 

ml w ho are, therefore, 
I tpted bj the mos( ordinary principles of hu- 
man nature, to maintain their own consequence 

iting that of their competitors for 

publ irj and a better Bystem for the crea? 

discord," says Mi-. S« "could not well bo 

dei ised, than that which thus arrays members of 

profeesi i .eh other* and 

) ntion b\ all the hope- of 

on and fortune. 

•• i I or Committee remark, thai from all they 

can learn, as well from the communication of the 
at-, as from the returns, reports, and ad- 

dre-e- to them h\ the I H< _ <• officers, uc can- 
not d r thai tl ' 1 1 i done .-my 
thing : - < Becting the pu 

>n, but on tb< :\. thai all their 

ded to it- i! 

to run 



66 

in deft to the amount of $21,000; they have 

dour all thej could todt ter students from attend- 
ee} bave disregarded, and defied the ordi- 
nances of the regents of the I Diversity; thej 
have created cabals among other physicians, and 
have enlisted the State Medical Society, most un- 
vrorthilj and improperly, in their opposition to the 
regulations of the regents. ^ our committee bave 
not hesitated, therefore, to recommend, that 
some prompt and effectual means be adopted to 
abolish the hoard of trustees. It is probable 
that there bas been such gross abuse and misuser 
of their offices bj marij of the present trustees, 
that thej might be removed by legal proceed- 
ings : hut in the meanwhile the College suffers, 
and new incumbents would soon follow in the 
same path, and be engaged in tin 4 same scenes 
of contention. A more effectual remedy will be 
.1 in the repeal of the charter of the College, 
and in the organization of a new institution. All 

means Bhort of this, your committee arc con- 
vinced, w ill be utterly inefficacious. 91 

Mr. Spencer then proceed- to -how. that "the 
I iture are called upon, not only by the re- 
i, who solicit their interference, and who 



81 

have expressly consented to any art- the \i 
laiurr shall think proper to pass, to inter] 

n trolling power by repe iling the charter 
of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and 
i <»r an institution upon the 
i ipl< - si ited in the report of the committee 
of tl & \n exercise <»t power 

which the committee solemnlj believes the con- 
dition <>f ill*- institution itself, ami the character 
of ii . imperiouslj require." 

the principles proposed to be 
in the organization of the new insti- 
tution contemplated bj tin" regents, and con- 
I in the Kill offered t<> the senate bj the 
'I chairman of the committee erf 
I 

of the report of the com- 

•• the most important of those principles 

ill not be two sets of officers in the 

• institution, so situated as to I"- perpetually 

! in feud that 

-Mrs Ttoi nil thr ,/„/„. v „■/<„/, //,, 

intfr 



. 



It may be remarked that the bill BO reported 
passed the senate unanimously j but al so late I 
period of the session, that it iH not afford to 

the house of assembly an opportunity lor the full 
AfSCUSSion of its inn-it-, w I lie 1 1 \\a- likely to en- no, 

inasmuch a- the enemies of (he bill, by their 

gross misrepresentations, had caused great ex- 
citement among the medical memhers of the 
house.* 

The legislature, therefore, having left unfi- 
nished the act proposed by Mr. Spencer, and 
unanimously passed by the senate; and the 
board of regents not possessing the power to 
carry into operation the resolutions they had en- 
tered into of altogether removing the trustees of 
the College — the professors, influenced by a 
seme of self-respect, and of their professional 
Obligation and duty, seeing that they could no 
< r remain with credit to themselves or be- 
nefit to the public, and unable longer to endure 
the annoyance they had so long experienced from 
a hoard of medical trustees, felt themselves corn- 



See Appendix. 



pell, d. as their only resource, to rrtiiv from the 
Cullr^r. undrr vtho«r anomalous u<>\ rrnmcut it 

was impossible to reader their mboara honoor- 

m \\ i a, or beneficial t<> the state, 
kftet ex | kbeir grateful acknowledg- 

ments for the various and distinguished mark- of 

i _< Dts had, from time to time, 

: in them, tbej accordingij tendered their 
- of the professorships and offices 
they r ea p c c t Welj held in the College of Physi- 
os. 
The - tme wen m o pted by the regents, and a 

resolution pawtl. f\prc--in^ thr thank- of that 
hotly to thr -aid |>r< il< — or«- tor tin- faithful ;md 

able manner in winch the] had filled their re- 
chairs as instructor- and lecturers in 

But shall th<- <iiv of New-York, holding the 

rank il n other departments of litcra- 

Hid the numerous facilities it 

lical school in the union, 






70 

be without an institution commensurate with 
the advantages Bhe otherwise enjoys? 

Time and experience will determine what will 
be effected l>\ those who have succeeded to the 
places vacated bj our resignation. But while 
we congratulate the public that an opportunity 
i< n<>\\ (.Hired for an honourable competition, 
which ma) contribute to the advancement of 
medical Bcience, i<> the benefit of our profession, 
the advantages of the youth who maj resort to 
this city for instruction, and to the interest of mir 
state and country, yet for the reasons already 
advanced, distrusting the organization of the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the ano- 
malous government of it by a board of regents 
and a subordinate hoard of trustees, an imperium 
in imperioi the result may be readily anticipated) 
as, of the house divided against itself, an insti- 
tution containing the seeds of it- own dissolution. 
Under these impressions, the late professors of 
that College have resolved to unite their labours 
in the organization of another Bchool, on a more 
I ral and extended plan, guarded from profes- 
sional rivalry, from political and party intluence, 



ami when connexion with the observance of 
the statutes of the state, the merit and attain- 
; ili« pupil nn ill be dulj respected i by 
which, we trust, the advantage of a school of 
medicine will be secured to the city, commen- 
surate NMtli it- increasing prosperity ;uul re- 
soun 

I .mi a( this time, gentlemen, induced n> repeat 

ion w 1 1 iii » I made upon a former <>c- 

i . nnl which has proved a subject of meat 

annoyance to the envious and the interested ; thai 

1 ical mIm.mI can <>nU eiisl in a great 

and j> >pulous city, This truth, tin- axiom, how- 
popular and unpalatable ii may i>r<>\ e in 
• 'Tii district of our state, or m those \\l»o 
mis be connected with the minor medical insti- 
i . the experience of all b 

! * • j 1 1 j% justified To use the language of my 
able i ollc igu< . Profi ssor Macnei en, ■• the solid 
1 i of a ii" die d i ducajtion i- not to be obtained 
in those rill ools, recentlj instituted in our 

< . . i they pn U od to teach anatomj 

and | w ithoul subjects, and 1 1 j * - practice 

i ithout a patient j but must !»<• laid 
only l>< laid, .mud i the ha [)italfl and 



72 

dispensaries, the countless accidents, the num- 
berless distenpers of tin- multitudinous city." . 
Allow me to odd to these remarks the weight of 
authority derived from the long experience and 
observation of the late venerable President of 
tbe College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. 

Samuel Bard. In hifl address delivered before 
the Medical Society of Dutcbese county, and in 
reference to the prosperity of the College in 
which we were then associated, he thus ei pres- 
ses his conviction, " that a good medical educa- 
tion, although it may be commenced, can never 
be properly finished in the country, where op- 
portunities for the study of many of the most 
useful branches of our profession are not to be 
obtained, where many rare and important dis- 
eases seldom occur, where lew young men can 
6ee a capital operation in surgery, and where 
limited opportunities of dissection arc offered* 
One great advantage, therefore, says Dr. Bard, 
which I hope t" see flow from this institution is, 
the encouragement «f our public medical schools, 
by a practice which has not hitherto prevailed 
80 generally, as from its real usefulness and jjrcat 

importance it unquestionably ought. 1 mean that of 



71 

sanding young iiHMi. at least to finish their medical 

education at New-York, where • chemical labo» 

f y an aoatomical theatre, ■ well-regulated 

Vital, and learned professors ofierthem every 

f improvement, and will do more in one 

hi. to promote their knowledge, and to give 

i just, liberal, and extensive views of their 

I than many yean -pent in the coun- 

try. 1 am confident/ 1 he proceeds, "that in this 
decidril preference which I give to the oppor- 
tunities afforded for a medical education at the 
and amply furnished school which 
\w i in New-York, I meet the hearty con- 

currence oi man of a liberal 

mind in thifl or any othei y of the stato. 

rell know the difficulties they have to 

contend within instructing their pupil- ; too 
l i<' excellent opportunities of 

our public seminary, and too conscientiousli 
their doty, to hesitate in a matter so appa- 
rent and bo important I know. too. the diffi- 
culties and obstack ti which obstruct their wishes, 
. and. in too many instances, the 
impossibility of parents supplying th< -ary 



74 
fenpemefli :m <l UH) frttpwntly tlio impatience and 

coafidmoe of yoong men i hut would it not be ■ 

evil.ihat those who Will not. or who cannot, 
atlord tlic Hire- ar\ expense of time and money 
to ohiain a gOtd medical edneal ion. should turn 
their thoughts to some other junto— ion. than that 
the health and lives of our follow -citizens should 
be committed to the care of such as arc confes- 
sedly unqualified tor so delicate and important 
Mk r" 

1 will not except from these remarks, gentle- 
men, even the Medical School denominated the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons of the West- 
ern District: for in that seminary, admitting the 
competency of its professors, very imperfect 
moans of education are furnished to tlio pupils : 
this must necessarily be the case, not only from 
the want of the means of giving practical in- 
struction in medicine 4 and BUlgery in the wilder- 
ness, but from the errors committed in the first 

nization of that institution, from the hurried 
and imperfect manner in which the professors- 
are compelled to deliver the few days' instruc- 
tion, bj a misnomer called courses of lectures, 
that are given upon the branches they profess to 



' inplamN have actually been made 

agnin-t the conferring (heir degreeq 

- who ha> o boon limited to -noli m- 

Slderable moan- of education! a- arc allorded 

be Fairfield Bchool A- ilio community are 
generally nut informed upon tbie subject, I will 

take tl. inniu to communicate a lew fu I - 

in arhich the citioene of tin- state havo a deep 

.and which I hope mav BUggepI to the 

Dta or t<» tin legislature, iho propriety either 
of a ibolitiou "i. "i- at least ^ great reform 

in, i luoiiiioii pflfBUed in that in-ti- 

on. In the school referred to there are h\ o 

whom reside at a dis- 

the place inhere tin- College i- loca- 

me occupied in pur-nit- foreign from 

those of the medical profession, I believe, li- 

i |o time, haw 

m addition (o the 
tl i pupils and from gradu- 
ation. Kach profo— or in rotation, proceeds to 

I m Id. and devotes tin kg, cyr abool a 

month to tuition m hi paitt< '.I up br inch i be 

then .,il,< r pro. 

io~or. v r 



76 

month, and in liis turn gives place to a third; 
the third retires and a fourth succeeds; and yet 
another ; denominating this a sixteen weeks' 
course, as they themselves express it, instead of 
each professor delivering a four months' course 
upon each branch, as in the Colleges of Phila- 
delphia, Boston, Baltimore, New-York, &c. I 
ask, gentlemen, can any man become an anato- 
mist in one month's study ? Can he acquire a 
knowledge of the practice of medicine in a sin- 
gle month ? or, indeed, can he learn the elements 
of any one branch of the profession in that short 
space of time ? Every tyro knows it to be im- 
possible ; and yet a degree is conferred upon the 
student who has passed two winters attending 
these monthly courses. 

Dr. Bard, in the discourse referred to, has 
abundantly exposed the absurdity, to call it by 
no other name, of such limited means of medical 
education. I must be permitted to add, that in 
my opinion, the regents have a heavy responsi- 
bility on this subject. I am afraid they know 
not what they do when they thus bestow diplo- 
mas upon, and thereby recommend to the confi- 
dence of the public, candidates, who have never 



77 

the inside of a hospital, nor witnessed the 
tod accidents that are only to be 
met with in a great and populous city. 

Another fact meriting notice, and which de- 
mand- the immediate regulation of the regents, 
i-. the mode in which the candidates for degrees 
are examined and recommended. Instead of 
examining the pupil in the presence of the board 
of professors, as is customary in all other medi- 
cal schools, and by which they are enabled to 
form a comparative judgment of his abilities and 
attainment- from his examination in all the 
branches of his profession, the practice in the 
Fairfield Bchool is, tor each professor, when he 
terminated lii- course, to subscribe a certi- 
ficate at the time of his departure, recommend- 
ing A. B, or C, a-, in his opinion, cpjalified to 
receive the doctorate, the professor knowing 
nothing of his acquirements in any other de- 
partment <>f the pupil's professional studies, and 
indeed, which the pupil is yet to acquire from the 
pre! of the professors who. according to 

1 1 i i - system of instruction, areyel to succeed. 

Nor do the prof! ifterwards e?er con- 

bstitub other inquiries) touching 



78 

the further attainments of the candidate, or his 
abilities in composition as ought to be exhibited 
in his inaugural dissertation) which should be the 

subject of a public discussion, and at which 
the board of professors should be present, a- in 
all other institutions of this nature. 

Accordingly, such is the impression relative 
to the imperfect system of instruction in the 
Fairfield school, that a course of lectures in that 
institution is not, 1 believe, received in any of the 
Colleges or Universities of our country, as equi- 
valent to their own. 

Indeed, some years since, (he regents of the 
university were induced to accede to the pro- 
posed incorporation of a College of Arts, in the 
room of the Fairfield academy, one of the con- 
ditions of which was, that the charter of the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons established 
in that place be surrendered ; and, indeed, the 
it- had actually stipulated for itsabolition,and 
resolved not to sanction afterwards any College 
out of the city of New- York, believing, as I heard 
them express it. that in no other part of the state 
were the same opportunities aflbrded to the stu- 
dents for acquiring practical knowledge, either 



79 

as to the native or i arietj of the disetoes which 
all for the ^kill of the physician* or of the nu- 
merous accidents which mem immediately tall 
under tli«^ notice ami caie of 1 1 * c - surgeon. 

Deeply impressed with these truth-, ^entle- 
m ii. tli»' late professera of tin- College of Phy- 
llis and SuigeODS of the city of New-York, 

Wed not to relinquish their accustomed 

labour-, hut plactng a full reliance upon the 
bey mighl exped to receive, not only 
i the numerous physicians of our country, 
whan they bad educated, hut from the appro- 
'ii of their felh.w-eitizen* in general, and of 
authorities of the state, they determined to 
proceed. without < I < 1 - 1 \ . to purchase the neces- 
sary ake, and to erei I a suitable edifice at their 
own aipense | DOl doubting that if their lahours 

merit it. they will receive from the pupil- that 

ori to thk city for their education, an ad- 

i"ii. withouJ Bdieking finis 

from the oofiers of the Mate/ The former of 

these ol u far as ragaidi 



80 

our "local habitation," it affords us the highest 
gratification to inform you that we have also suc- 
ceeded in obtaining the patronage and protec- 
tion of a neighbouring scat of learning, (Rutgers 
College,) by an alliance constituting us the Medi- 
cal Faculty of that Institution,which,under the care 
of its pious, learned, and distinguished President, 
its able professors, a munificent founder, aided 
by liberal patrons, and a vigilant board of go- 
vernors, is rapidly rising to an eminent station 
among the older institutions of our country, and 
promises important accessions to the cause of 
religion, science, and letters. 

Thanks to a kind Providence, notwithstanding 
the unceasing opposition we have received, and 
the recent unworthy attempts to calumniate 
those who had the honour to solicit that con- 
nexion, attempts no less dishonourable to those 
who instituted the vile detraction, than to those 
who were made the ignoble instruments of con- 
veying the base slander, we succeeded in obtain- 
ing a candid hearing from a numerous, dignified, 
and intelligent board of trustees, who, after duly 
weighing the merits of the application in all its 



Bl 

relations, unanimously resolved to form the alli- 
ance that had been proposed, An event, | 
ttanen, which, it i> devoutly to be wished, may 
ropitious to the great interests of medical 
. to the honour of our state and country, 
and a source of increasing prosperity to the 
I name we bear. 1 Under the pro- 

of this institution, and freed from the 
Ihraldom and restraints we have hitherto expe- 
ricn< indulge the hope, that our labours 

< lu-ively directed to the improve- 
dent, and the honour of the pro- 
ion. 
If. v. li. ! to the College of Physicians 

ler the most adi erse circum- 
e received your approbation, or 
character bestowed upon our 
we nol indulge the belief, that in 
our | situation, unembarrassed bj internal 

. rmd with the accession of strength 
our able coadjutor- in the depart- 



1 1 



to 

ments of anatomy and chemistry,* we shall l>c 
enabled to furnish such system of instruction as 
will not onlv secure to our pupils more substan- 
tial benefits than Ihej have ever heretofore re- 
ceived, but to the city a school of medicine, that 
shall be commensurate with the advantages she 
otherwise enjoys, and the great facilities afforded 
by her central situation in the union. 

Exempt as we are from professional rivalry and 
intrigue, and undisturbed by party or personal 
influence, the results we have anticipated cannot 
fail to be realized. And if, young gentlemen, 
the unwearied exertions of your professors af- 
ford any just grounds of calculation, we may 
now with certainty predict, that many years will 
not pass away, before the city of New-York will 
attain to that rank in her medical literature, that 
she at present enjoys from her commercial and 
political advantages ; and that the institution 
under whose banner we are happily enlisted, 
will no less derive honour and prosperity from 
the extension of her system of education, which 
has been recently effected. 

* Sec Appendix. 



83 

Under these favourable auspices, permit me 

to declare to you. in die name of my colleagues, 
and to assure you, that we shall devote the best 

rtlODfl (rf our abilities and zeal to advance 

your interests in that profession which is to be 
the occupation of your lives. And. Imustre- 

•.if. under the control of an interested supervi- 
sion, and under an anomolous government, we 
e enabled to obtain JOUr countenance and 
. we think it no vain expectation, that 
more vigorous exertions on our part, and those 
II service, will not fail to receive 
ill higher measure of approbation. 



A PPEND1 \. 



I. Pag* i . 

imbia 

• .a lisi of 

. 

I 

' .' 
pan I ' and 

I . ! M 

8a*i I I V> v i: i>. M.l>. 

Ml». I' 

v foundi 

,! be 

i 

laic 

■ I me 
I 
accurate. Bee hii in rol. 

the American ind i'liilo*ojihical Ref 



86 

Dr. Samuel GUMMY had, previous to his arrival in Ame- 
rica, from belaud, where he was born, attained a high degree 
of eminence in the medical profession, both as a practitioner 
and as the author of an interesting volume on Morbid Anatomy* 
entitled, u Observations on some of the Diseases of the Human 
Body, chiefly taken from the Dissections of Morbid Bodies, 
published in London, October, 17G3." This work evinces no 
small evidence of sound anatomy and practical pathology, if 
it be at all compared with the casual papers on similar subjects 
of observation at that time made by others. He was, some 
time before he was chosen to the anatomical chair, the pro- 
fessor of natural philosophy in King's College. Political 
difficulties in the American government caused him to return 
to his own country, where he died some short time after. 

Peter Middleton, M.D. Of him I need only say, that 
his learning as a scholar, his practical abilities as a physician, 
and his character as a man, deserve especial regard. He was 
one of the very few medical men of this country, who at this 
early day, were distinguished for various and profound learning, 
and great professional talents. His Medical Discourse, or 
Historical Inquiry into the ancient and present state of Medi- 
cine, the substance of which was delivered at the opening of 
the Medical School of New-York, published in 1769, is an 
honourable specimen of his talents and attainments. He also 
wrote a letter on the Croup, addressed to Dr. Richard Bayley, 
a copy of which may be seen in the New-York Medical Repo- 
sitory, vol. xiv. This highly respectable man for a conside- 
rable period, struggled with an impaired state of health, 
through th if a laborious practice, and after enduring 

the seven m bodily suffering for more than ten months from a 
stricture and scirrhus state of the pylorus, died in the city of 
York, 1781. See Dr. Francis's Cases of Morbid Ana- 
tomy, in the Transactions of the Literary and Philosophical 
Society, vol. i. 



87 



John Jokes, M.D. He wa< a native of the state of New- 
York, ami horn in the town of Jamaica, Long Island) in 1729. 

Ho lOoo We d his preliminary education chiefly at a pri?ate 

school in New-York. By the advice of his father, as well as 
led by his own inclination, ho commenced tho study of medi- 
cine under the care of the late Dr. Cadwalador, of Philadel- 
phia. After completing Ids studies iii this country, Mr. Jones 
In London he attended the instruction of the 
celebrat. d Hunter, M-Ken/.ie. and Others : and the practice 
of Pott. lie graduated at Etheimsi in France, in .May. 1751, 
baring al~o added to his stock of knowledge by the learned 
and profound lectures of Petit and Le Dran. Upon his re- 
turn to his native country, his abilities soon procured him 
extensive practice. Bui g e ry was the object of his greatest 
ambition, and lie was the first who performed lithotomy in 
:ty. 

In 177."3. he published his work, entitled, Plain Remarks 
upon Wounds and Fractures, which he inscribed to his old 
r, Dr. Cadwaladcr. This production cm- 
braces many of Dr. Jones' practical observations which he 
made while in public employment, and was a most acceptable 
p r e s e nt to his country in the then critical state of American 
affa - 

Dr. i 1791. Pot a minute and interesting ac- 

count of I Dr. Meaee'i Memoir, and the American 

iical and Phfloaopll vol. iii. 

James Smith. .M.I). He Wtt brother to the distinguished 

i Oik. Dr. Smith reC4 j\cd Ins medical edu- 

catio; in Eui I was graduated doctor of medi- 

which occasion lie defended an inaugural 

eTssser [ntermittente. II- m admitted hy all to 

l>een eminently learner' theoretical and lan- 

botb as a practitioner of ind in hi* 



M 

-■■ of public instru* lion. He died at an advance 

i :. 

SiMi 1 1. I) MM-. M.D. I.I..D. Of this eminent individual. 
• g :i distinguished ornament i<> the medical profession, I 

Shall Only Observe, that !'<>r many year- al'lrr t!n r« -npjani/.a- 

tion of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in 1:11, he 
held the office of President : and closed a life of greal 
fulness at the advam His medical writing 

well known and deservedly popular. For the history of nil 
life and services, I must refer the reader to the interests 
lume published by his relative, the Rev. Dr. M'Vickar, profes? 
sor in Columbia College, New-York. 8vo. 1822. Al 

the Discourses <>f Dr. Mite lull and Dr. Dneaehel. 

There are some particulars in the work now r< 
touching oui late college difficulties, which are (unintention- 
ally I believe) calculated t<> lead i<> wrong impressions as to 
the condu t of mj self and Borne of my colleagues, in the con- 

. ith the then board of trustees. A more con 
ment of tin -c affairs may be found in an article on Dr. 
M«Vickar's work, published in the New-York Evening Post, 
about the time of the appearance <»f thai work. 

Johs V. 1!. Tinmm'. M.D. After a substantial prelimi- 
nary education in his native Btate, New-Jersey, Dr. Tejmenl 
availed himself of the advantages in medicine which Ei 
Chen held (.ni to American youth. While in London, I 
hew. I 1 Ion of the Royal Society. He died at 

of the yellow fever, in the West Indies, whither 
he had gone for the benefit <>f hu health. Hi- course of in- 
Btruction m obstetrics, was aide and - ,■ the 

f Pennsylvania, and Tenm i 
York Medical School, midwifery I taughi as a reguhu 

branch of education in every Medical College in I 

Dr. Francis's edition of Denman's Midwifery. 



80 



U. Peg* 11. 

Kit harp Batlbi d eo er rei to extended notice, be 1 I 
am unaMr. at present, t<» tarnish it. II. w el among the most 
emiiP .ml equally distinguished 

hi up .li el end practice. AJtei i life of greet acti- 

vity end usefulness, fyeflowssfer which he contracted 

official duti ll« elth Office r of the 
port of N "i . sged Hia dh - 

irritinga .• Letter on Croup, addressed to fiii pre- 

-. Dr. Hurt, r of London, and ln> Account of the Epi- 
fork in 1795. They ere rafficient 
tde end durinu rested benevolence 
is remembered by thousand s. 

m M.D. I em indebted to my reverend 
ftiend. Or | r If'Li od, of thn city, for the particulars 

which follow of the lit- of Dr. Rome] 

Hi e h born in I New-1 ork, in Beptember l < 

and ol : ti.,ii :it Beckinseck, in Si 

Jersc; the instrni Petei Wilson, the late 

sor of languages in Columbia Col tbout the 

commencemci ,,, abroad, and 

- at Edinburgh. He also \ 
>>• i.t in I' 
dm need In- pn.i'. isional 
career. If.- erai advantageously known ai an able prirate 
lecturer on np - of medical science, and n ii frith 

plse> i r witness to b t instrumentaiirj in the 

foun.: I m| ;U1( | g ,, ( . 

wasr n in thai [nstitution 

on anatomy an I! \ 

lircrcd at the first opening oi 



BO 

it .id honourable specimen Of Us diversified attainments and 
latent Be died in N< J >-rk m 1817. 

•• Dr. Romaync," says l>r. M'Leod m bis letter, " was a 
nun of strong muni, well cultivated and much improved by 
readingi by the society of learned men, and l>\ travelling. 1 
kixu him i" health, and in the midst of disease : in affluence* 
and in adversity. He had much Belf-commandi though natu- 
rally of powerful passions, and rerj tender sensibilities. Be- 
d of all his children in their infancy, be could not endure 
the recollection of their endearment. On the last evening of 
his life be L r a\<- testimony to b near friend of bis respect for 
the scriptures. He departed too suddenly for me to see him 
on his death-bed*" 

Prom a communication favoured me by my friend Dr. 
Mitchill, the vice president <>t* the College, I extract the fol- 
lowing interesting notices concerning the professional services 
of Dr. Romayne. 

•■ He returned from E&urope when I was a young student, 
before the termination of the revolutionary war ; probably 
during the year 1782. His arrival excited considerable con- 
versation, both here and in Philadelphia ; insomuch, that my 
CUhoeity Was awakened to see him. He WBS reported to have 

improved hi- opportunities with singular diligence. This was, 
I suppose «l. the fact, for be had visited Paris. Leyden, London, 

and Edinburgh ; at the latter of which places, he went through 

the course of Btudy required by the statutes of the University, 
and published a dissertation in Latin, according to the usage, 
on the formation of purulent matter. De gencratione puris. 
It was said of bim, that he composed it himself, without the 
aid of ;i grinder, or hireling writer or translator. Besides the 
knowledge of bis own or the English tongue, he had attained 
move classical learning than the greater part of the members 
of tin on acquire. He could speak Low Dutch and 

French fluently. The circle of hi- acquaintance embraced 



M 

most of the respectable citizens. He w^ endowed with a 
1 healthy ftuM, and was exceeding!] induutrt 
be mantf itrong d. sire to rise and b< i 

i tin w orld. 

• 11. iccordmgly, very soon displayed Mb knowledge of the 
human bodj . b tores oh its anato my i which 
were thru \<r\ in structi v e t.» those irho attended. For. 
thought! i i- bj bo memos complete, it wis* never- 
t heless , valu:ii lit < \'« nded. 

• \ !n\ had a rthdrewn from thai citj 
in 11 died inhabitant- roturnedi and the eonstitutod 

auth" ' L r, ^« inin. -iii. ( Mm* of 

their carl NOB of iln 1 < liarter that had been 

granted during tto provincial tdmiiuatratkm, to km*:*- Col- 
lege. \ _■ other sheratioos rewdersd urw by the 
chanpe of circumstances, was the appointment sf i now 
board of tm-t. . -. < M tin ><\ Dr. Romayne Wlfl BM of the 
in the la 

• 11. id. no donht. imbibed high expeetatioBS from tln- 
new situ r ipf* si to hare been r< 

to an- It pleased the trustees to con- 

. a racultj aprjomtmewj of prof bjoyb. 

The i d l»y Dr. B - incompatible 

witli • or. Tin- lestiitted kit activity, and be 

soon ] int. Il< had qualified 

hrmself fin a teacher, but was now tmemployi d to l- ctore upon 
•ion. His situation \h came irksome 

on BJ Of att iiiiiim nt- iii literature 

and m*<\\ BJ with higfc BOtlOBS 1 and filled him 

tOSBJ notion- of -"ne u ho had i 

lb could not carrj poinl 
be wished, and th< »«• wlnrh he 

was ormo<- !«pleasure and rr.olm --. and finally h d 

him, after some years, to refill. 



92 

" The first faculty of professors bating performed but unaJ] 

ce, Dr. Romaj ne exercised hie talents aa a private* teacher, 

arid so assiduous and laborious was be, thai be prave instruo; 

tion on almost all tin- branches of professorial knowledge. 

Anatom\. practice of pbyaic, chemistry, and botany, were 

tauuht b] tblB extraordinary man; and with Mich mm <•«•<-, that 

bedrea bearers Groin distant places, even from Canada* 
•• Mirr his separation from Columbia College, he found it 
dienf to procure academic honours, and more especially 

diplomas from some other seminary. 

•• Dr. Romayne, from s variety of circumstances, being 
now, as it were, under the ban of the profession, discontinued 

teaching, and some time after made another visit to Europe; 

during which he posted up the arrears of information, and 
modernized himself by the men he saw, and the institutions 
lie examined. 

11 There was not. however, much for him to do for several 
years after his return. At length opportunities offered of 
making him. by rapid steps, a most active and conspicuous 
member of the profession. 

" In 1306, an ad was passed for incorporating medical so- 
- for the commonwealth and its respective counties. By 
den and singular change of sentiment, Dr. R. was called 
from bis retirement, and elected the first president of the so- 
ciety for the city and county of New- York, on the first of July 
that j 
11 During the succeeding winter, on the resignation of the 
of state delegate l>y the gentleman who held it. Dr. R. 
i o the delegate to the State .Medical Society, in 

Albany. After taking hifl leal in the central body, he was 

promoted to the presidency of that association also ; and by 

such did he rise to honour. 

■ T •■ i way he had attained did no4 terminate here. The act 

irementioned, for providing a College of Physicians 

and Surgeons, had been torpid or dormant ever since its passage 



03 



in 1791, Tho day was approaching when the repent* of the 
ad unota n- provisions. Dr. EL found a 

gTcat deal of business in medical matters and otherwise, to 

ipj him at the si >vernment Among other tilings, 

the solicitation of a charter tor the aforesaid purposes, env 

d him in the in. .-t satisfactory manner. Though lie was 

assist, d powerful supporters, he may be con- 

• d as tin- leading agenl on the occasion : and the person, 

probably, without whose argent and pressing inquire-., the 

ompK ted. He \\ is res arded for 
being s el ected as the first president of the new 
tattoo in 1807." 

Dr. WllUAJI This ornament of the profession 

ando , was bora at Newtown, on Long Island, in 

3 mnel, and Ins grand-father Benjamin 

Moor He received the rudiments of 

n classical education under the tuition of his elder brother, 
Moore, and Pn ndent, for many years, of 

Coin: I age. He a t tended the lectures on medicine 

- in. I Bard. In 177.;. In- went to 

London and t ndi. In 1780, he vii graduated 

inkni be published tns disser- 
tation, Ih Mir. r,,r more than forty rears be continued un- 
rmliiiigrj engaged in thr arduous dutiei of an extensive 
P rar ' 1 1 ied in the 71st rem 

I • : 1 : 1 . 

papers of Dr. Moore maj be found m the 

Aaseri''-*:. Meuseal and P iter, the New-Tori 

Medical Ropo „ Medic*] .-,,,<! I'd. 

Journal. Sec also I | Denman 1 Midi 
dix. 

was Preejdeut of t] • \i. , 

Sock* u;r ,. 



94 



hnt Trustor of the College ofPbyi d Sur£Cnn>. On hi> 

death, the < 'olfoge recorded their testimony to his pre-cmmi nt 
worth. With the comienl of Dr. Francis, at that tunc IV>- 
fessor <»t' < Obstetrics in the < follege, I insert a part <>f his notice 

of tbtB estimable man. U delivered to the class. 

• l?. tnrc I conclude, permit me to pa] my feeble tribu 
homage and reaped to the memory of me late Dr. William 
Moore, recently cafled from among as by the fiat of I'rou- 
lence • a bright exemplar of the various and important qualifi- 
cation- demanded of the practitioner, in mat department of 
the profession, the duties of which] have attempted to ex* 
Libit. 

11 I am persuaded that I do not allow feelings of persona] 
friendship to prevail over the decisions of tht it scrutiny 

When I BSSert, that no member of our profession has exhibited 
in hi< life and eonduet. a more beautiful example of the dig- 
nity and benignant lustre of the medical character. Honoured 

for many years with his friendship, and admitted to the privi- 

of hk conversatio n , I was early taught to look opon Dr. 
Moore with a respect and veneration which all my subsequent 
acquaintance with him served only to strengthen and confirm. 

Thousands among ns can testily to the mildness and urbanity 

of ma manners, t<> bin tender and watchful regard to the Buf- 
fering patient and sym|mthising attendants; to his warm- 
hearted benevolence of feeling, and devotedness to the •_ 

of all whom ma eminent attainment-, or the lesson of a pure 
and unspotted life could profit : — to his strictness of moral 

principle, and uniform devotion to the sacred obligations of 

reBgion. 

M It WSJ but a few months ;il"i, that the cfovernors of tfah 
Institution were honoured with his co-operation and enlight- 
ened by his counsels. Hcsv great their 1"-- has been can be 

known t.. those only who were acquainted with the liberality 
MB, and his freedom from every mean and selfi-h 



95 

• Dr. Moore rose to -,cc bj tji 

persona] and professional merit A libera] education had pre- 
pared hin. willi ad 
and amiti tifl labori 

<Mir wuli ardour and delight to those clac 
■ vasoa at had bean bnboed in In- 700th. Baseom, 
■ the two profi auons \\<r.' adorned 
with such attainin- BUCfi prr. were 

Dr. V d In- bro- 

bishop of the church. While 

rlh. let tl .t OU 1" r< ;i\< liu nt gi?S 

place to a noble emulation of their pure firtOQ and acth' 1 be- 
nerolcnc 



III. Pigt 24. 

>n the re-or^ani/atinn of the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons in 1811, I addressed a left r In Dr. James S. String- 
bain, at t» ■:'. --., r ,,\ , hum-try in < 'nlmulm 

lege, lhat pubtaV ling extracts an taken. 

1 " . ttk. n from the r< ■ <.r.l~ of thr 

m at time, aril] book the 

•• <1 lo 
this C alion. and lii 1 1 . r mini 1 

thoaewho ha\. , lll( | n , 

the mc-diral honours of the College. Similar doenmenti 

up dir-.il ;• D the 

j.hii. for ih* MUM J.un- 

dant etidence of the COI ,] of 

1041 r f Ottf 

own. 

ft b calct. • at least OtM DQDdi e d and tiff ntv-fi\<: 

thoaaand dollars are annually expended m PhfladV Ij.l.ia 1 



110 

nedicd students retorting to that city from different parts of 
the union. 

I ) r Columbia Coll 

mmnr.R or m i di.ms v ttkndim; thi mi nn \i. m iiool. 
38 students during the session of 1792-3. 



49 


do. 


do. 


1793-4. 


40 


do. 


do. 


1794-5. 




do. 


do. 


1795-6. 


29 


do. 


do. 


1796-7. 




do. 


do. 


1797-8. 


34 


do. 


do. 


1798-9. 


21 


do. 


do. 


1799-1800. 


34 


do. 


do. 


1800-1. 


51 


do. 


do. 


1801-2. 


40 


do. 


do. 


1802-3. 




do. 


do. 


1803-4. 


48 


do. 


do. 


1804-5. 


05 


do. 


do. 


1805-6. 


55 


do. 


do. 


1806-7. 




do. 


do. 


1807-8. 




do. 


do. 


1808-9. 


54 


do. 


do. 


1809-10. 


G4 


do. 


do. 


1810-11. 



NUMBER OF GRADUATES. 

2 received the degree of doctor of medicine in 1793. 



4 


do. 


1 


do. 


o 


do. 


o 


do. 


1 


do. 


non 


| (1m. 



do. 


1794. 


do. 


1795 


do. 


1796, 


do. 


1797, 


do. 


1798, 


do. 


1799, 



Dr, oCbm thcine in I 



■OM 




4 








3 




2 


do. 


1 




3 




none 


do. 


MM 


do. 


3 





do. 




da 












do. 


i. 06, 






do. 


t 


do. 


. 


do. 




da 


1810. 



• During the same period of tunc th. numl.. r ittondillff thfl 
medical i Philadelphia hat been from two to km hun- 

dred ; da mounted to four handled Mid 

of doctor 

of ni 

" I WlU Mo mfl in.jiiiry to what CMMM the 

failure of i f Colombia Collegi 

°« Ma 1 iriDmgrjf divide tritfa my 

colleague- • r,,r want of abUrtiee, or cemroro foi 

.! with the 
fact> 

_t» at 
>n lOOV BOB 

of any chariL" which tl 

^ uc boi b] v. in, -ii tbej 

I ■ 
dfe, that with • | | „„,],, 

■ d and ( 
■poo and thai it* advantajrcH mi 

rite with the wraith and 

: th in' 
•ociety of this 

of th. ty, acba:< 



M 

!v to lli* l (1 for that pur- 

aln ,i.!\ referred to ; fix I irai certain, that nothing 
wanting but ananimitj in the profession, to establish b Medical 
School in this city, equal is the talent.- and learning of in 

M <»r>. ami in all the meam of in.-truction. lu an\ institn- 

tkm in this or any other country . With the ucu of contribu- 
ting, as far as my exertions might enable me, to tin; accom- 
plohuiunt of this object, I accepted a professorship in the new 

Coll,: 



IV. Page 25. 

1 may observe, that the Documents which I have inserted 
arc copies obtained from the arcliivcs of the Honourable the 
Board of Repents of the University, and are duly certified by 
tjbeir secretary , Gideon Ilawley, Esq. 



TO Tin; REGENTS or THE UNIVERSITY OF THE 
STATE OF NEW-YORK : 

The memorial of Nicholas Romaync, doctor of physic, 
• t fully Bhoweto — 

That your memorialist, in the year one thousand seven hun- 
dred and eighty-eeven, instituted a College in the city of New- 
York, for teaching thevariou- parts of sci< nee, comprehended 

in a DOUTSe of medical education, in the most respectable Uni- 

veraitiei in Europe. That, from a commencement naturally 
small, and difficulties inseparable from the establishment of 

such institution.^, he hsj DOW, after <jn at labour and private 
sacrifices, brought his plans into full effect. 



99 

That during the winter sessions, hngimiiinj the 1 
day in Vnwhw , and Boding the ttrifd EUturdaj in tpril, 
lectures ere delivered on the of physio, anatomy, 

the i medicine, midwifery, and larger] | and 

in such mam ai arc delivered i .lav. five 

daVS H I .« s-uui. Viitl also, that <lu- 

oonunencing the first Monday in 

a«d end \ ■*, lectures are ds> 

i rJiemi et i r, end the materim medics \ and hi 

ants of medicine have an op- 

■icj of ■•■ day, five days i week. 

■ 1 - toprota nd Institution, the Corporation of the 

"limn to the charge 
the A . and Bridewell, 

.< r with daily report! of 

the f\ prescriptions, and the effects ol medicine, 

sent of the students of physic. And 
d lectori a arc delivered 
• ' most tmpoTtancei n b 

from t 

That you momojialisl annexes to thu memorial, an extract 

containing the natnes of 

student- for the rear on an hundred and nil 

and Bkewiei ■ front in Umshoose, 

osjeteai ng in nasjj - of the -tMd.-ni- of medicine who i atered 
their - Bm the aai •■ thet with In 

monthly retarr 

■ Baesnoi 
which ,,,, thf waul ni-titnt,,,n to mnh of 

us state as are engaged in tn >etud) of pa 

- ml. 
'' ' 
P ^ ■ nU— .the irtttl 

0< " w *' ' on in 

\tidtn 



100 



the United State, though medical instruction is afforded at 

IJoston and at Philadelphia, yet hitherto it is not connected 
with thai practical information, which can only be obtained by 
diligent and assiduous attention to the sick. Your memo- 
rialist therefore prays, that the Regents of the University of 
the Btate of New-York \\ ill be pleased to take the Baid < 'ollcge 
under their protection, and direct such measures with respect 
to it as in their wisdom may tend to the important end of its 
institution. 

(Copy.) 

NICHOLAS ROMAYNE. 
New-York, Jan. 11, 1791. 



V. Page 25 



Extract from the Minutes of the Regents of the University, 
January 28, 1791. 

" Doctor Moore from the committee to whom was referred 
the petition of Doctor Romayne, doctor of physic, setting 
forth, « that he has instituted in this city a School or College for 
teaching the various parts of science comprehended in a course 
of medical education ; and praying that the Regents of the 
University will be pleased to take the said College under their 
protection,' made a report, which being read, was agreed to 
by the board, being in the words following, to wit : 

That, in the opinion of this committee, the above-mentioned 
Institution, for the purpose of diffusing medical knowledge is 
well calculated to promote the general good, so far as it de- 
pends on this important branch of science ; and therefore that 
this institution merits the protection of the University. 



101 



That this University he pl< as< il lo express their approbation 
of the nine, tod cause the resolution containing such appro- 
journals. 
I . ith the laws of our Institution* no po- 

cunu.' Tiled, this board will at Least ap- 

point • commitb e to sop rinti ml. from time to time, the course 
itructioo irbich n gta d in the above-nanu d M< dical < Sol- 
\t annual meeting of the Univer- 
>it\ . what rofision can be mail, to promote the inte- 

Eteeolted, That m the opinion of this University , the above* 
ment: ititution for the purpose of diffusing medical 

listed to promote the general good, so 
n this important branch of scii ace. 

; Linn, Doctor BioorOi Mr. Verplank, 
Doct Steuben, and .Mr. Clarkson, be a com- 

•mentioned school, instituted by Doc- 
Nicholas Romayne, for teaching the various parts of sci- 
ence comprehended in a COUTSe of medical education." 



VI. Page 25. 

TO THE ( BANCELLOR, VICE-CHANCELLOR, AND 
REGENTS OF THE I DIVERSITY OF THE STATE 

OF M.'.'. rORK . 

Th' B ] knight, Samuel Nicoll, 

' x R mi- Sam- 

3. E .in do< tor- of pi, 
respectful!; Bts — 

n < p regular!] educated 
jn the science of medic m* . bam long beheld iritfa pain the 



102 



many evils which the community suffer from the very imper- 
fect education which our youth receive in that science, in thnr 
native country. 

That deeply affected with the melancholy scenes so often 

befon tin ni, of life, health, and prosperity, falling a prey to 

QSlble that hut a small part of our youth arc able 

to support the expense of a regular medical education in for- 
eign universities, and seeing no way to obviate these calam- 
ities in future, hut by establishing a regular medical school in 
the state, under the inspection of the repents of the Univer- 
sity, your memorialists are induced to solicit your countenance 
and assistance in a design expressly calculated for that pur- 
pose. 

That truth obliges your memorialists to observe, that a pro- 
per system of education in almost any science, but especially 
in one so extensive and complex as that of medicine can only 
be planned and conducted by men who have been regularly 
educated to it themselves. Nevertheless, \ our memorialists, 
wishing to L r i\e the fullest information and satisfaction respect- 
ing their design, think it proper to acquaint the regents, that 
they have agreed among themselves, that a certain number of 
their member- shall severally give a regular course of lectures 
on the respective bram hes of the science allotted to them, so 
that every branch of the science, which the circumstances of 
things will admit of teaching, shall be regularly taught. Your 
memorialists ask no salaries, nor other emoluments from the 
Dts, nor from the public: they rely solely on their own 
industry and Hiccess. Neither do they wish for an exclusive 
right to teach : let any man teaeh who will ; let medical pro- 
fessorship- be established where they may, your memorialists 
are not unwilling to enter into a competition thai must neces- 
sarily tend to promote literature and the public good. Some 
share of public countenance is, however, necessary to the 
complete success of their undertaking ; SO mueh at least, as 
IS requisite to give it stability, and to excite industry and emu- 



103 



lation anions the students : ind this, indeed) is all your nic- 

ihetfl ha\c t<> ask. Without stability, you. «jrntleinem 

mu-t plan ' ill il" 1 requMl Qtial to ■ complete 

system of nudical instruction, race u ■ medical library, bo- 

ical ( laboratory, and collections in anatomy 

ami oatursl history, will erei be imperfect Without the means 

of exciting industry and emulation, the most ardmi endea- 

iid t( mcheni will e?ei prove fruitless. 

r b» memorialista therefore request, that they, together 

with Samel Bad, Join It. B. ELodgers, and William Ham- 

mersl re of physici may be incorporated, agreeably to 

don of the ad of the legislature, entitled, M an 

act to institute an anirersity in this state, and foi other pur- 

poees then in mention< d, M pinned the thirte* nth day of April, 

one thoooind seven bundred and eighty-seren ; with the pow- 

• in nt and property, usually granted to 

ty : and with thr privilege of r<< ommcml- 

ing to the I'niv* r-ity. tor medical degrees, such of their stu- 
d the j.r< sence of the regents, shall pies with credit 

the 8€Y< ral i vuiun atiuns which arc ippoilted in the meet Cele- 
brated un: i Europe, to a-ciTtain the proficiency and 

a the plan whmh your BM morialiMs have in conlrmpla- 

birtfa to the most celebrated 
school in E That it iras only to the public spirited ex- 

ertions of a few young _" Dtlemen, i dnean d andV r the innnor* 
tal Boerha I of Edinburgh owed its 

rise, as it now owes to then pupili who snocoodod then in 
teaching, the pi I rank it boldi in the learned world. 

educated as your m> i. been in that sehool, 

and honoured as th< i<<n with ample t< - 1 1 1 1 1 ■ * i * i * - - from 

i diligence and pieaseieacy, they ratief tbem- 
idres, th; 



104 

not pay so til ■ complnm nt to Aimn. ipOSe, 

i hat what has been performed l»\ other m< n, cannot l>« 

l»y their nun countn nit n. 

.1 VMI> .1 w ■ 
S Ufl II \h 

\\ hi i \-i M" 
\n iw. i \- Etoa li 
r. i n.i \niin Bjmj 

S\mi i.i. L. Mi k DLL, 
I! k ii \i:d S. &JM \.n. 
I'. iuuarv J.;. 1791. 



VII. Pain 

TO THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OP THE 
STATE OF NEW-YORK : 

The Memorial of the Medical Society of the State ofN 
York, respectfully Bhoweth — 

That this Sot l'ty i- jn<t DOW informed, and OOf without 

some degree of regret ai well a- astonishment, that some me- 
dical gentlemen of this city have unadvisedly made application 

to your board, for an act of incorporation to constitute them 
of Physicians. 
khiltIi ire apprehend then- is little danger of a precipit 
adoption of any measure of Una nature by you ; yet, aware of 
it- importance and disagreeable consequences, interested in 
the prosperity of medical science, ami the respectability of 

our profession, and feeling onr-elw B, in a << itam Bphen . L r nar- 

of the barmon) and peace of practitioners in the healing 

art ; S/€ earmot mppOM it « » 1 1 r duty, to omit B M BSOOable intcr- 
LOn, or to ha/.ard- in tins instance- the effects cilher of 
~ nrj>r i -« : or mansgl in* nt. 



105 

We are also con > ire not" 

blct- i upon which these tjcntlrmcn 

appli .'.(I found in elevating distinction in their own 

invidious — a | 
<»f otln r medical char* 
who n i claims i nioritj . w upon in 

attnsiivp and estmbl on. 

It i- n«'t wu ,.■ the University 

Of this 

-i\ at th i ouW neithef tend to general 

Utility or li.i;.: iaJ inihiriicr Upon the rulti- 

ind satisfaction 
°1" V ] fan (hose 

cherish thr*sc « ht to pun 

A plan o gig}*, 

tare, in which , utility ; 

and* of any institution calculated to 

inter i mm* 

hnw been also taken by t >...,! t miulate youth to m- 

necessity of an, 
It i- I.;, no mcan.i in(< tiould, in 

any dc^rr ichool. Im!i\ idnsl* 

who with a-siduitv pro>. i, merit evetj encour- 

a ?* ! "' ■•'■ T " ield ii npm. r>n,i ihr-rc i* ample mem (br the 
prosesfon o! < olumbia ( *.!!, L r,. lo di^.hy tin n \n thi ii active 



*ow memorialist;. I • ,,,, .jj,,. 

dedio above I ■ .. ;, : ni)( | y , lUr ,,.« mon 

alists, as in duty bound. 

lean 

• f \MI . 'I'll IUM . 



106 



viii. Pqg»t6. 

L.rtnni from the Minutrs of the fUgt*U of the University. 
March .'>. 1791, 

On motion- the board resolved itself into ft committee of 
the whole to take into consideration the report of the commit- 

lO whom was referred the memorial of Bil .lames Jay, 

knight, and others, doctors of medicine, applying for an incor- 
poration of s College of Physicians in this city, and a remon- 
strance, signed by John Bard as president, John Charlton as 

vice pre>ul( lit. and .lames 'Hilary as secretary of the Medical 

Society, and the petition of Peter Dumont and thirty-two 

others- indents of medicine in favour of the above memorial, 
and after some time spent thereon, the chancellor re-assumed 
the chair- and the vice chancellor from the committee of the 
whole reported, that the committee had gone through the said 
report by paragraphs and agreed to the same ; whereupon the 
said report was read and approved by the board, and i< in the 
words follow ing, to wit : 

That in the opinion of your committee, the establishment of 

a College of Physicians would be an object of great import- 
ance to the interest of the community, as it ought be rendered 
singularly useful in promoting medical science, and contribute 
tiallj to the reputation and emolument of the state. It 
would not only prevent] in the opinion of your committee, the 
students of medicine in our own state from going abroad for 
the purpose of acquiring thai knowledge, and those honours 
in their profession, that Uiey might acquire at home; but 

would attract the attention of wiling gentlemen of the neigh- 
bouring States who may desire to prepare themselves for the 
practice of physic, With usefulness and reputation. 

Your committee, at the same time, beg leave farther to re- 
port, that the statute instituting an University within this state, 



107 



does, in no in mplate the incorporation of Col- 

leges or academics for the b I \elu.-i\rl\ of any j>arti- 

owerer important and uaefuli ind 

Ihll i UinOt COOSifltenUj take any order 

on the aforego *iaL 

Bin of lUCfa an institution, TOUT 

commit (• i n n would be proper for Um i« gents' to 

.■.ti.. n of the legislature. 
/;. • n quested to transmit i 

gs to the boooorable tin- le- 

ire. 



IX. P< 

Extract from th> Minutes of tin Regent* tf the Vnircrsity. 

/'■ tossy 15, 11 

appointed to con- 
fer with the ronmi • the trustees of Colombia 
1 < al institution, made i report 

in th< it — 

i committee of the 
trustee* of Colum!' ye, on the Bubjecl of b m< 

rt — 

I th the said committee, and irere infbri 

by th I no i nnlv had it in 

contempl.v , ,| M lr 

charter, ax appear- ifficUl pa| I <!<•- 

* Um v had 
tho l»n-m« -- nrtx h at bearl m<l wr-rt artuallj proceeding in 
it as fast as possible — and that Us bt but that 1 

would he able, rerj abort jr, »• <:*:.-» it m «. irh .-, manner ai 
fully to answer all t rids design* id 



108 



hire in the law passed at (Ik ir |ejl BSSSiOAi empowering the 
regent- t<> I net Hid] an institution. 

The) therefore requested the regents would Buspendi 1(jr 
the preaeoli any farther, operations on the subject, until they 
shall Bee the effect of the measures < 'olumbis * College arc ta- 
kdogoniti \\ liicli they kipped would be to their entire 

taction. 

R,.soir,<l. That this hoard, agreeably to the reqnesl of the 
trustees of Columbia College by their committee, suspend, for 
the present] any farther oporationa respecting a medical insti- 
tution, till they shall Bee the issue of that instituted hy said 
College. And that the committee appointed last Bpring for 
preparing a charter for a medical school, under the law passed 
at the last session of the legislature for this purpose, be dis- 
missed. 



X. Page 28. 

The fact of one hundred and one practitioners of medicine 
Im uiLf constituted a board of trustees, is one of those adven- 
turous experiments that are sometimes made for the purpose 
of accomplishing ends seemingly not attainable by sound and 
wholesome means. A more pernicious measure could not 
have been devised, and the occurrences marking the history 
of the College fully prove it such. 



nw 



M. /',.-:; 34, 

Extract f'rom tkt R / Ifa I'niversilij tn \r!mm 

teas r e.lnnual /, ft qf Vhysv inns and 

9mrgt m . . .\* . ■- > '.-. UH L 

\n from the -.ud rapoH and documents^ that an 
arrangement li madi md agreed upon between Ihe 

»ors of the said College uid the medical professors of 
Cohnnbia Cou\ union between the 

two in' i, by which ail the professors of Colombia 

i transferred to tlie < '« .ll«*ir«^ of Physicians 

ami > r giving medical lectores or 

-fit). 

been approved and sanctioned by the 

ml by the committee of 

the n : in the city ■ I <>rk. The trustees 

consequently abolished the faculty 
of medicine of that institution. Youi committee accordingly 

recommend, that the nec< -sary appoiutim nts he made by the 

I arrangi m< m »>f union into full 

Prom the medical College of New- 

g the most aminenl medical 

talents of miliary, the moat bene- 

i may be anticipated. All thai appears 
now to be andowmeni to establish tlus 

institution on a respectable and permanent foundation. 



110 



XII. p 

nrcee of information as to the Dumber of 
students and the then existing state of the institution, we may 
refer to the messages and other official communications of the 

governoi to the legislature, to the records of the regents, and 
to the addressee of tliu students. 



XI II. Page 40. 

The committee of the regents to whom the papers relating 
to the memorable contest in the winter of 1819-20, were re- 
ferred, consisted of the venerable Chancellor Lansing, William 
A. Duer, Esq. and Simeon Dewitt, Esq.: the doeuments, 
fanning no mconsiderable mass, srere most patiently and dili- 
gently investigated by this upright tribunal. The pros' 
exhibited both oral and written evidence in defence j and had 
the gratification to enjoy the mosl signal triumph. 

On this occasion, I consider it but justice to declare, that 
the talent- and eloquence of Counsellor Emmet, a trustee of 
ollege, were powerful auxiliaries in the Btruggle, exerted 
too, in the midst of arduous professional duties. And here I 
cannot omit to state, thai s large share of gratitude is due to the 
di-uit ' rtionofmy able colleague, Professor Frai 

who on this, as on several other occasions of moment, m 

of the College to the honourable the hoard of re- 
The storm having subsided, all will confess the extent 
of ms services ID support of the medical school, and his devo- 
tion and integrity in the cause. 



1 II 



xiv. />„,.,. ,:. 

Extract from tie Annual Report „/ the ffijpnjCj of tin I at 

rcr.titi/ 

In r « ilM an. I 5 ,ii the ( Hy of 

x I .. the tame numbe* of profeaeori -till conduct the 
iMtr\h in that institution, thai superintended iti 

intareatfl mt tht- tmi' tbeir last annual report 

1 nli which the profi soon - n- 

deaTour in inot ..,- the bealin^ in," has 

n tin- distant parti 
of our cm* I n be enumerated ■■pim g 

100 P .1 not only from the 

who ha\r at- 

1 ll,,< rt* v to the reputatioD of an inati- 

•■ the liberality of the I. gia- 
■ 
*■*■ r ibarraeaed. There i-. how- 

10 soon be 
thai will gradually i txtinguiah 
in the proceai oi 
is still partalm | v of the \< gialature, in the annoai 

'I tmdred and d ptudi nti irfao ma- 

Iricohl m last session, out of v.hi.-h aumbei hit 

hare been rccomm* nininn, 

in degree m of medicine; which 

cordjngly t 



112 



XV. /v 



I have concluded to onrit, at this time, tin* puhliration of 
approbatory rt porta and documents. They would < \- 
land 1 1 1 * - Appendix to ti»o great a length. The inquirer may 
find them in the archives of the regents. 



\vr. Pagt i ... 

Justice requires that 1 should state, that 1 assumed the office 
of expositor, so far as 1 was able, of the actions of my col- 

lengaefl and of myself before this tribunal : the duty was vo- 
luntary, and to inc. DftOSt ifrat if\ ing, .My friend, ProfeSSOf 

Franc!-, ires the other member of the i omraittee of the pro- 
I believe the opposition did not invalidate a single 
declaration \vc advanced before the committee. They had 
unwittingly committed themselves, and blushed at their own 
temerity. The succeeding reports of Col. Troup will place 
this subject in it< proper point of view. 



XVII. />,/:y>46. 

Notwithstanding the length of the reports to the regents 
rated by the venerable Colonel Troup, I am induced to 
republish them here because of their ability, and the very sa- 
tisfactory character of their contents. They are. mor< i 
from the pen of one who has been 1<»hlt recognised as among 
most eminent of our citizens. The decision of such a 

man QOfM \'. i i 1 question. It S/8J flattering to the professors, 

that after the mo.-t p.itient investigation, they were again vic- 



113 



Meeting of Ike Regents of the Puteflrttrjr, on Thursday 
magi Maul 9 1 . 1 lh t tkejoBowmg report was pn teen <f. 

■ i whom was referred the memorial of the 

rod Surgeons in the citj 

of Nil nduet of the professors 

'«• the :. - ml ( !oll< ge, and proposing 

i-iiiin'«| |,\ the Bysfc m under 
WlieJ are managed ; and also the 

i ollege in answer to 
the said memorial ; the memoriaJ of the late gradu- 

ef the said answer, together 

* i m U the |>r« tiii - . s, 1m g l«a\c re- 
spectful!. •_ 

m. nd. ,]. m well by the 
•sors of the College, and bare patiently 

heard ~. and the prOOfi adduced in 

in l.< ing ah) thai they 

. rity of 

• • Kirs of the College; 

and i rse of th< \t in- 

<l uir ; tin which could not i i] to ha 

mem- 

^ crB " r« |J] u* fully 

•"W* 1 ,! on which, undei the 

^"^ I health mah-ri- 

If I 

D yj°'- tabfashed 

A|lh- 

8t * J1,j rty, has r loAy 

eniineoce, as to stand at least od a U?el with the most i 

I schools in the United 6 - th c 

I ' 



Ill 



learning and drill of its professors, the number of its pupils, 
of ihe different parts of the world from which the pupils come. 
That the College may not only maintain this lofty Btand, but 
may rise to greater height, musl be the sincere and Fervent 
wish of every citizen, whose bosom swells with the love of Ins 
country, and pants for the increase of her literary fame. 

,. committee knew full well that such is the wish <>f the 
members of this board, to which the Btate, in its legislative 
wisdom has committed the guardianship of the precious inte- 
rests of literature. But this patriotic wish, in the decided 

opinion of your committee, can never be realized without 

union of sentiment, and concert of action between the trus- 
i the College and the professors; ss without union of 
nenl and concert of action between them, it musl he 

palpably evident that the College will be a house divided 
a if : and being divided, it will be sure to totter and 

in the end to fall. 

Your committee scarcely need remark to this enlightened 
board, that it is not uncommon for professional men, whose 
minds are stored with knowledge, to view professional objects 
through different mediums : hence. as from a fruitful source 
flow different opinions, which, though dictated by honest con- 
riction, in the discharge of public duties, sometimes league 
themselves with the angry passions, and thus engender acri- 
monious and lasting disputes. So acrimonious and lasting 
ire i!i« se disputes si generally to baffle, from tune to time, all 
B pU of mutual friends to settle them, and bring the par- 
back t.» that cordial understanding with each other, which 
, ry t,, render their joint labour- in a public work, as 
r iri:i l to the community a- could be desired. To cast rc- 
proach, however, on honourable men, for thus yielding them- 
the power of such disputes, would be to betray an ig- 
,,- ,|;e imperfection of our nature, and perhaps rout 

, ought to add. an ignorance Of the principles of 

our happy form of government; which, by opening the hu- 



115 

man mind, and ridding it of every restraint, pives the amplest 

I'.K'ultlt S. 

5 nre with extreme regret, that they are 

the unhappj circumstat 

ourish and sustain the controversy be- 

of the College, that it 

does ix. t n.»w admit of any cordial reconciliation, not that il 

(I 1m- of 

1 1 p|) impn — < d on tin lr minds, 

think t: . strong improbability, that tin- re- 

I :>• to rem tin under 

:i of the board of tru 

will place insuperable i in the pray of the i: I « » r i « > u s 

I in- to !'«• rapidly making towards 

an increase o lion and usefu I an 

d( with injury to the honour of th< ind to 

: irdinal int duty 

ind your committi i taded 

that I tty v, ith all the 

fidelr the ( 

I trusts reposed in them. 

. i. nt disclaimii idea 

of impute • r of the parti< 

t tor theil ch your 

i the painful n 

comn tin l"i ird of trns- 

t( U r of tin 1 tins- 

1 tmi nt of " nth iik n wl i 

i medicine. In pursui 

tbmh 
I tli< mDowiii 

to Wit : — 

i: r of 

f the 



116 



■aid College; and to provide Ibr the appointment of no greater 
number than thirteen trustees t<» manage the affairs of the 
College ; .iiui also providing, that the president and rice pre- 
sident of the Baid College, shall be ex-officio trustees of the 
1 n order to preserve to the College thai professional 

character which is indispensable to its prosperity and its tame. 
II' solved, as the sense of this hoard. That immediately 
alb r the charter of the Baid College shall be amended as aforc- 

Bsid, tin- hoard will proceed to the choice of trustees to ma- 

oage the affairs of the Collef 

Your committee arc informed, thai the medical schools in 
our Bister states, are under the direction of gentlemen who arc 

not practitioners in medicine: and dins, if the measure re- 
commended by your committee should he adopted, the board 
will L r <> into a practice which experience elsewhere has proved 
to be productive of very salutary effects. 

Your committee are .sorry to state, that there is due from the 
CollcL r <' a large debt, which presses heavily on its funds. The 
growth of this debt to its present unwieldy size, is owing in 
some degree, as your committee conceive, to the improvident, 
though upright management of the fiscal concerns of the Col- 
lege. For the purpose of the gradual extinguishment of the 
debt, your committee further recommend to the hoard, to re- 
quire each of the professors of the College, hereafter, to con- 
tribute annually and gratuitously to the funds of the College, 
the sum of ten percent, on the amount of his annual instruc- 
tion fees, over and above the fees paid for matriculation, until 

the debt .-hall be finally liquidated. Tour committee suppose 
that the contribution will not he deemed a burdensome charge 

by the professors, when they take into account the handsome 
emolument^ which they must receive from their offices. 
All which is respectfully submitted, 

Roiikht TH01 I'. Chairman. 



117 



SECOND REPORT. 

The commit'' .. report OB the 51§t ultimo, on 

the in I i lege of Physiciana and Surgeons in 

the c rki ami tin document! accompanying it, 

and to whoa ii was re fer rod toinqtrire tndreport <»n the sub- 

•:n the pupill tor private 

lecture, v. if* mending the public lec- 

■ pulationa relative 

"ii the pohcj of prohibiting the 

Ltriculatioo lee from each pupil ; 

and ill the situation of th< debts due from 

whom due, and Ik.w the security t<»r the same 

may I Scatkm of the charier aa proi 

i fully to report — 
: three ra :• i mbraced in the reference to your 

comi; 

of 1 1 - bj the pro fe ss or s from pupib who 
irhfle, at the same period, they also at- 
tend the pnhli- ; and (he expediency of adopting rc- 

gula- to the sam 

2d. The pobci of prohibiting the taking of more than one 

i'li pupil. 

3d. , of the d« bta doe from the CoDet 

whom me may be ' fleeted; 

.'• ' I :i.irl« r. 

our committee obn 

that all ll.. „| tin ir offices, and that 

i, to three fla^< -, viz. 

'.'. ith pro- 

and e outinu e w the irhole term of 

and until they shall I roes. 

id. Those who 1 • id. dirt 

of practitioners, either a faring i pen of the 



118 



term of study, and shall afterwards rnlrr the offices of profes- 
sor?, in order to complete the remainder of the term* 

Tbo8< who while attending the several College lectures 
do, at the same periodi enter the offices of the professors. 

! no bull whatever found l>> the trustees, as your 
committee understand, with the professors, for receiving the 
pupil- mentioned in the two lir>t classes. In receiving these 
pupil ~ the professors have merely exercised s righl common 

to all practitioners in medicine, and which this board could 
not attempt to disturb, without doing an act that would justly 
be considered as an infringement upon private right. 

The trustees, however. Strongly censure the professors for 
the practice of receiving into their offices, the pupils men- 
tioned in the third class : and the cause of the censure is a 
suspicion that the practice has been converted into an instru- 
ment for introducing a system of favouritism among the profes- 
sor- towards the pupils of the third class, which system has led 
the professors, on examination, to pass the pupils, and after- 
wards recommend them for decrees, when in reality the pupils 
ought not to have been passed, and ought not to have been re- 
commended. Prom this view of the cause of the censure, it 
is obvious, that if the cause be true, the professors must be 
i( nt in integrity and consequently a just apprehension 
Would be excited, that in a short time the reputation of the 
College would be blasted. The serious tendency, therefore, 
of the censure, has imposed on your committee the duty of 
examining 1 1 * « - cause •'!' it with careful attention, and it affords 
them particular pleasure to assure this board, that after such 

exami ation, they are convinced the cause is entirely without 
foundation. The grounds of their conviction will appear in 
the sequel of this report. 

Your committee would here observe, that the practice of 

profess >rs, in taking pupils into their offices during the period 

public lectures, is coeval with the existence of all the 

medical schools in the state ; and accordingly the practice has 



II!) 



followed by the pn I liege of Physicians 

ami S It. N . similar pri 

itli ihe pri i the rerj hoola 

B ston, Philad< l| hia. and !' n yeux 

join that the like practice prevails with the pro- 
fessor distinguish d mi d Europe. 

- of the p 
rjjoy advantages in instruction which 
publi • lecture rooms. The ad- 

-t in h;i\ irse to th< profi SSOrs 1 jti\ atr 

libraries, and in uniting theory and |>r;t<ur. together; lor 
. on the one hand, impartii : to the 
pupi ry principles of science, they are, <»n the 

- hand, applying these principles i<> actual practice] by 
admr il of inspecting the daily me- 

dical d theif ofi of \\ itin>>iiiL r their cli- 

nical in the low< r c society. 

<l by the pupils, place them in a 

more favnurab! ing knowledge, than the pu- 

d the public tectun i, i*"r the latter can 

i that of tilt ( ' ,,1 arc 

ing the prai tice of medicine, 

rj in the hospital in the city of 

N the practice must, n< •< naril] . be more li- 

ui in the circh - of the pro- 
: < onduc* to 

- plain to JTOUI commit- 
tee, a feet so 

totally or 

partially pi al prohibition might in- 

deed be proper if 1 to the 

p ■ i the tim 

the due discharge of their dul 

existed any gro a the -y-». m . 

tappy to !«tate, that 



20 



DOt thi' Ica.st evidence has Imtii offered to them by the trustees, 
nor have they i n<imi:i t . < I that tin- professors have denied to the 
( lollege any part of the time requisite to the faithful disci 
• ir public duti( b. 
I irdi the system of favouritism, the comm 

k fon i ipr< ned their conviction, that it is entire I) with- 
out foundation. The circumstances w hich have produced this 
conviction your committee will now proceed to submit to the 
i«l. 
In the fir.-t place, the trustees expressly acknowledge to your 
committee, that the Bystem <>t favouritism rested wholly on the 

basis of BUSpicion, without any evidence to BUpport it, hut not- 

withstanding the total absence <>f evidence, one of the trus- 
declared his belief that the suspicion was well founded* 
The other trustees confine themselves to a declaration, that the 
suspicion was afloat in the city, and declined intimating that 
tin y either believed ( »r disbelieved it. 

In the Becond place, it was shown to your committee, that 
no pupil i whose attainments have been approved of by the 
professors on their private examination, which is called their 

lir-t or trial examination, has- upon the second examination, 
Which 18 B public one. before the board of trustees, be« n re- 
i by that board ; while on the contrary. tb< 
where the pupils, whom the professors, at the full trial 
mation-. pronounced unqualified, and have accordingly 
i (I to brim/ before the board of trustees for a second ex- 
amination- have, on an appeal to the board, been allowed a 
d examination, which has resulted in the recommendation 

of them by the board to the regents for d< gn 6S. 

In the third place, tip shown to \om committee a 

particular instance wherein a pupil who had been five years in 

the office of a professor, and had likewise regularly attended 

the public. I, c! ined by the | decidedly 

unqualified for a degree, and yet that very pupil was after- 



lai 



wards recommended by the board of trustees for a degree, aiul 
he obtain, i! it. 

In • lucrative private prac- 

- it improbable thai they 
could debeH I irrupt means to pro- 

cure a small addition to th. ir innoa] amohtmenti : and the 

high \ the urtu. - which 

should govern the conduct 

utter mi the « \< cution of 

their very important trusts, f>< in the! straight line of probity 

oi public duty, 
neper i tin in to 

The conelusion which, o g reeohli to the ordinary rules of 
fair rca^oninrj. your comuitti md to draw from the BV- 

OBBetBBOai above -tat..!, i-. that tin- suspicion of favouritism 

by the proses* public pupils who hk 

eater their prh not entitled t<> the slightest notice 

from the regent tstom of taking public pupils 

of the prof, ^ors da | not npp. 

have beer, tr committee are unable 

to cauign any reason, in point of < bj the custom 

should in ilations of this board. 

As to the second subject i ee, y our committee re- 

mark, thai • « - abofi <i- inendV <l of the pupils 

are less than tho-e .: J schooti of some 

I iiose fees do not go int.. ihr pockets of 
the professors, but ad — are taken m part 

to cnlarirr- • r the ittf 

of the College a 1 ,.,. to the 

bSOniadgl Of four < ornni:ir< < . ...m plain of the G ' I II iinpro- 

uln« h th. pupils ,i, rift an 

nssiifiiliitii benefit fr f. as, by l»< ing pri- 

vileged, on acc< 

reasons y « sre opposed 



122 



to the policy of prohibiting the receipt of more than one ma- 
triculation fee from each of the pupils. 
As to the third subject of reference, your committee have 
tei thai the College debt consists of bonds to Mr. Au- 
11. Lawrence, to Professor Poet, and to Professor 
! iid also of notes to the difierenl professors. The 

ty of these debts cannot, in the judgment of your com- 
niitt. 6, be in any way affected by the proposed modification of 
;nier. By a change of the present trustees, ami substi- 
tuting others in their places, the corporation of the College 
Will continue in full life, without the least diminution of its 
competency, or liability to pay its debts; and the rights of 
the creditors of the corporation cannot be at all impaired, nor 
their interests endangered, by putting the direction of the 
College into the hands of trustees who are not of the medical 
profession. 

All which is respectfully submitted, 

Robert Troup, Chairman. 
A true Copy, 

G. Hawley, Secretary. 
Albany, April 6, 1825. 



XVIII. Page 52. 

As I have already inserted the two reports of Col. Troup 

( n tire, this reference to those documents may be deemed un- 
lary. 



XIX. Page 54. 

That during the whole duration of the College, from it* 
foundation to this session, when the charge of favouritism was 



1-23 



so unMiswhii i gly pw fen e d i not ■ single instance could be 
I in uywiM oopntenancing this accusation, u i feet prr- 
p of die profi mors Bach individual trot- 
ted by Ihe oommft compelled to 

dm*? ■■ fawi I nv tart that could warrant this charge. 



XX. Rage 58. 

TJ| iving private pupils, by j>roiV-<ors of 

Mc(]l ' I iv. rati. We find it to have 

■ ekl mai with the p* of the 

■'•• r -". v - I T 'irv ago, With whom it con- 

the i-i. n nt day. h wna the boaH 

i d the countenance of students, 

both public and pirate, \ more daring inrasion of private 

d the one li.rc mentioned, baa learcely ever been 

atteni; 



X X I . Page GO. 

Dr. Jo ion, in Us file of Garth, gives H ai his opinion, thai 

man ha« found in physicians great liberality and dignity 

id wil- 

•rhere there is no hop.- ,,t 

Dr. Parr, in Ids letter to Dr. iv r - 

1 -' been in the babH of reading on 

to, and t! 

! opportunity 
versation and fi , a c | Mf whom, i 

I old to In 
the mo*t< d professional Davaoos in i! 



121 



of human arts and soienoes." other authorities might be cited 
of corresponding opinion ; and from ample experience 1 can 

cheerfully yield my testimonj in corroboration; 
candour compels me t«» admit there are numerous exception!. 
The alilt Regent, Lieut Go?. Talmadge has very properly 
ami sat.lv declared, thai <mr < ' t »1 1 « - i_r* * di»aL r rccmcnts originated 
in the main from professional rivalry. 



XXII. Page G2. 

Prom the able and luminous report of Lieut. Governor Tal- 
madgc, the chairman of the committee appointed to visit the 
Colletr. 1 <>l* Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New-York, 
the following extracts arc made: they must suffice for the 
it. The whole report is deserving the careful perusal of 
every man interested either in our medical or literary institu- 
tions. This report was drawn up agreeably to a resolution of 
the regents, passed in April 1825, and was made to that body 
in January 1826. 

On tin funds and finances of the College, the report states, 
'• The committee called for any suggestion or knowledge of 
any misapplication or mismanagement of the funds and finances 
of the ColleL r < • They were happy to find there was no sug- 
>n or pretence of any misapplication or abuse of the 
fund- and finances of the institution on the part of any indi- 
vidual, or by either the professors or trustees of the College. 
Several of the trustees here explained, and said their commu- 
nications appeared tohave been misunderstood by the regents, 
and also by the committee. They were not intended as 
charges against the professors ; that they were not accusers, 
and had no complaints to prefer. But their communications 
made- in the performance of their duty as trustees, and 
int( nded only to procure a re-organization of the charter, and 



12 j 



better rotations for the l'<'\ eminent v( the institution, and 
the more economical management of it> COUC4 I 

.; Mftfl folth : " The QOmmitteC culled 
for So i ■ <», any B I la\ouriti>ni. or OppraMKMl, 

against any candidate, bj either profeesori or trustee : ani 

lid be aboWO, where a candidate 

had b nee he bad been in the office of one 

professors . or had hecn t »j>pr« >-• «1 ■ hecausc 

i trustee .' The inquiry 
was diligent, but ineffectual, to establish anj such case. The 
tr us tees insisted, that proof ought not to be expected — that 

urn of proof. The motives winch 

ni to L r nr preference t<» a profi asor'fl 

offic* tfl the same time, into more than one office, 

i on the proreeaor'fl minds, could 

not h It was laid, the moral effect was 

ion in irhich the parties were placed, 

and ir ■ r of the prot o s por i over the 

Student-, and I be inferred from the nrnim- 

amaoi s. 

• In the absence of proof, the OaSC i< rted wholly upon in- 

fer« dc< -. which Wi n prc.--ed wnii L r rc.u force, upon the con- 

< • 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 t t * . . it wai represented, thai the 

Colh § oosiderable erninence* under 

its prcsen' i ro replete with incongruous 

ions. In thai KnU on only, l>"th profcason 

ir .;-•. . - . ... d t«i arr«,rd. 'I ;• comuutt« • • r< quired of < ach 

to sm arnendnu ots, whai h were dei m< d 

so essential to the welrareof the institution. Various propo* 

•-milted, and I With delifl r < | 

Ae of thi -e proportion- r< quire, 

liould !"■ |»a-- ed. making 

the prof* --or- on a specified salary, and prohibiting 

the professors from tiki d order to 

derate the char act d and en- 



126 



tirely impartial examination of candidates for diplomas : and 
on the other hand, that the trustees should he removed from 
their places ; or that the examination of candidates, and the 
care of the instruction in the College, be placed wholly with 
the professors." 

The report then notices the peculiar forms of government 
existing in the Univcisity of Maryland, of Pennsylvania, of 
Massachusetts, &c. and proceeds : " From the preceding 
references it appears, that the medical faculty of other insti- 
tutions have the immediate government of their Colleges, with 
the power of the examinations and the right of recommending 
candidates for degrees, to a board of trustees, answering to 
1 the regents' in this state, and without any intervening body 
of medical trustees, vested with power to control the exami- 
nations and recommendation of candidates for degrees. A 
recurrence to the rise and progress of " The College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons in New-York," through its various mu- 
tations and regulations, from its commencement to this time, 
shows that it has hitherto been conducted under the immediate 
guidance of medical professors and medical trustees, subject 
to a negative of the regents. The first proposition in 1791, 
for its incorporation, was accompanied with opposition and a 
remonstrance, signed by the president and secretary of the 
medical society. Subsequently from that time, differences in 
the government of its concerns have been uninterrupted, and 
collisions have been unceasing. At the last examination of 
candidates these differences arose to personal altercations be- 
tween professors and some of the trustees, in presence of the 
students. Their continuance is injuriously indicated to the 
public, by two conflicting notices for the commencement of 
the lectures this last term. The one from the professors, the 
other from the trustees. It is, however, with feelings of con- 
scious satisfaction, your committee are enabled to state, that 
these differences and collisions appear to have been confined 
within the body of the professors and medical trustees : and 



127 



that they have in no instance extended themselves to produce 
'lality Of oppresdon to any student or candi- 

wlnle. the College lias continued to ad- 
nty. and has retained its number of student-. 
notvrii _ other medical achoola have since been esta- 

othei states j and one other in this 
state. d< Dominati d •• tin- Western College of Physicians and 
which i- also in a flourishing condition, and well 
d. T" have Bustained itself against such competition, 
>of of its inen asing Strength ; and wlneh IS yet more 
certainly demonstrated by ■ reference to its students, which 
haw bet ii collected not only from mis state, but from most of 
the Canadas, and even the West India islands. 
The fame of the College as a medical school, combining very 
many a<!\ r improvement in that department of sci- 

tendedi and from its importance, 
general utility, and admitted facilities in education, it seems to 
have attained s high degree of eminence. 

•• P( • will no be matter of surprise, thai disagree- 

i the management of tins College, between 

the professors and the tl ■! societies, when it 

shall be r< are composed of practising 

1 candidates for the same patronage ; and that 

. Of all of the trustees, are also membere, and many of 

The advantages inci- 

tsessorship, may furni-li cau* - of ' scitement. 

Tli«- duties of s pi i not impede or hinder him from 

the ordinary pursuiJ practice. Probably it is 

Ttieular departmentt by his place of ■ 

telligenf young 

gentlemen, annual! out him in habits of intimate 

ton the lectures, carrj home 
with- kindest feelings of respect, and more ridel] 

spre.v mj feme el 

profsasoi 



128 



After HllgfQOting filiom measures for the better regulation 
of the College, the n ort concludes — ' k Should the regents 

approve of these recommendations, and any doubtt be <witer- 

tained if to the powei of tin regentfl to amend the charter of 
Ike ('nil' <_'>■■ BO a- to carry tlic Suggestions into lull cllcct, the 

oommittee believe the evident utility and aecessUj of new re- 
gulation- <>n this subject, would induce the professors and trus- 
lipon application from the regents, to give their corporate 
t to the alterations. Legislative interposition may other- 
wise become necessary. But the provisions recommended in 
regard to the filling of vacancies in the board of trustees, from 
persons not concerned in medicine, till they constitute the one 
half of the number, will however carry into effect and accom- 
plish the principal means desired to secure harmony in the in- 
stitution. 

'• From the preceding remarks, it will be apparent that the 
opinion of this committee is decidedly against granting the 
prayer of the trustees in their memorial of the 6th of Janu- 
ary, 1825, in which the trustees ask the regents ' to vest them 
with the power of regulating all the affairs of the College, 
and to delegate to the trustees the power of making their own 
by-laws and regulations.' In the opinion of this committee, 
a surrender of these important powers and authority by the 
regents would be inconsistent with the high duties which they 
owe to the people of this state, and would, under existing 
circumstances, be altogether inexpedient for the interest of the 

College." 

Sec also Journals of the Legislature of New- York. 



129 



x\m. />,.,, 

Extract from the Annual Report <f the Regents of the I'nl- 
versify . 

K Sin mi. April 13, I 

Burgeons in the citv of 
N I kt the number of MiaM matriculated for the prc- 
9601 . vrar ee hundred and fifty-eight, whirl, is len i»> 

abon orted t'«.r the hurt year. Thirty- 

four of l ivr recently brcn admitted, by the rc- 

doctor in medicme. The internal dis- 
cor<1 i and prof koto, at length become 

■odi ■■ the i ipprehend, hop ro all 

remedies withiiw//M> pow.r. hae materiattr retarded flu growth 
of this institution, and disappointed the high expectations of 

its founders. A pjeif Organization of thil institution g , ,,,. to 

liC n ' ' blc it to impart benefits to the 

prime, km ]U >1 ratioai of to public pro- 

perty, seated in the I ,,„„,„ t|ini . |m 

to ni i/ation. Experience, how- 

Ihetma ma a ia gomem and govermnem 

eboald be dooided lo depertmcaits Homrtm 

-everal duties an<l author. tie. : proli 

charged with the care and . duration of the stodenii ; gover- 
nors to Ik ' •""l •»«• *» rtrsmiiiy roncorna - 

xammation of stud- 
and torn*; | „p nn a || t})f; 0&mmm ,,, ,, M . 

Ceflege, would rr 

and sec ace and nnillili - I 

raepectfuiJy recomiie - to , )lf . Iirirll , 

rornpt attention of the legislator 

IT 



130 



XXIV. Pagi 

With peeuliai satisfaction I gi?e place to tin: following docu- 
ment- on the powers of the Regents. They express t he opi- 
nion of an able counsellor, on s question of great moment. 

.Mr. Spencer, from the committee on literature, to whom was 
referred the report of the Regents of the University, made in 
compliance with a resolution of the senate, respecting the 
power of the regents to grant arts of incorporation, under 
the new constitution, reported as follows, to wit : — 

By the 9th section of the 7th article of the constitution, it 

i- provided, that the " assent of two-thirds of the members 

elected to ea< h branch of the legislature, shall be necessary 

ery bill for creating, continuing, altering, or renewing any 

body politic or corporate." 

It is conceded by the regents, in their report, and must be 
admitted by every one, " that the legislature could not now 
pass a law to create a corporation, with powers similar to 
those conferred on the regents, without the assent of two- 
thirds of each branch;" for this obvious reason, that the le- 
gislature could not do that indirectly which it is prohibited 
from doing directly. And it could not be done directly, be- 
cause it would be repugnant to the constitution. The irresist- 
ible inference then would seem to be. that any law authorising 
the creation of incorporations, in a manner different from that 
ffibed in the constitution, would be repugnant to its pro- 
vision-, whether such a law existed before or after the adop- 
tion of thai instrument. The act conferring that power on the 
regents, is therefore, repugnant to the constitution. And by 

the 13th Section Of the 7th article, all such laws ;is ;ire repug- 
nant to the ficw constitution, are express); abrogated. The 
power in question then is rescinded, unless it i- saved, as the 
regent le, by the 1 4th section of the same article, which 



131 



declare*. w that nothing contained in this constitution shall 

tins state 01 by persona 

is authority ." Artci the beet reflection the com- 

inm- on thi^ clause, the] cannot 

perc. the power in question. What ia that 

tbstitntion of the members of an in- 

utr the | i >f the legislature. They 

are. « attorniei of the legislature. 

T i property or value ced< d j and it 

is so ither parts of the same article. The chartered 

i of the regents of the I Diversity, are 

undoubtedly p But is the power in question, 01 

those rested int. n ~n. w In. h an- the Milijocl of any charter \ 

the rigbt of holding property, <>t* 
manajrinL' and distributing the funds of the corporation, or to 
any ot n t.. th. p gents, 01 t" anj other body pc- 

islative power, which die >tatc 
can unquestionabl] resumi when i. The committee 

think it has bt I le constitution, when it pre- 

ilar modi ^iiiL r corporations, and sbro- 

it with it. 
It the opinions of th< 

and with tance, that your committee h u arrived 

at th B ingcometo it. they cannot with- 

hold its expresi It 1, they tliink ti much 

doub' led in the u - orpora- 

' not to remain in that pre- 

I ommend the pa— wjr of 

a bill which th irman to introduce, 

ronfr granted by the i im e the 

1 providing thai tx 

shall be present legislature, the tame ihall be .-nhiiut- 

ted to the regents of the . and th 

outlined. 



133 



OnlttsiL That have 1>< given to bring 10 such l>ill. 

Mr. 0p tag to leave* brought in the said bill, 

entitled, •• Am eel respecting application! to the legislature for 
the incorporation of ( tallages sad Academies, and to <-oiiflrm 
in charters granted l>y the regents of the I Diversity,'-' 
wlnrh wss read the first time, and hy unanimous consent, was 
also M id a ' cond time, and committed to scommitteeof the 

whole. 

Ordered, That the said bill and report be printed. 
See Journal of the Senate of the state of New- York, 48th 
session for the year 1826, page 355. 

Mr. Spencer from the committee on literature, in obedience 
to a resolution of the senate, instructing them to inquire and 
report, whether the regents of the University are within the 
purview of the 1st section of the 9th article of the constitu- 
tion, which limits the duration of the commissions of civil offi- 
cers to the 31st day of December, 1823, reported as follows, 
to wit ; — 

That two of the committee are of the opinion that the re- 
gents are not civil officers, within the meaning of the consti- 
tution. The provision in the former constitution, which prohi- 
bited the chancellor and judges of the supreme court from 
holding any civil office, was not deemed to extend to the place 
of regents, as it is known that one chancellor and several 
judges held that appointment. 

The chairman of the committee differs from the other mem- 
bers of it, and is of opinion that the duties to be performed 
by the regents, being altogether of a public nature, and form- 
ing a part of the general administration of the government, 
they having no private interest or benefit whatever in the pow- 
ers of the corporation, and being sppoiated and subject to re- 
moval by the legislature, all indicate that they are as much 
civil officers as the commissioners of the land office, or the 
canal commissioners, or the supcrintendant of the salt works. 



133 



They hold commissions prooioorf similar to those of the canal 

comnn>>i(Hirrs. the attonuy-jjeneral, comptroller, secretary of 

and treasurer, aiul he, therefore, can- 
- liic dub pence b< twecn the regents and those olfi- 
eers ; although he believes the practice under the old consti- 
. to have been, in some instances, as above stated : yet lie 
cannot acknowledge the authority of >uch a practice in settling 
ii of the ooneunitioa, i apecially when lie ii in- 
formed that it has always been questioned. 

Order* < ne N port lie 00 the table. 

See Journal of tl of foe state of New-York, 48th 

session, for the 363. 



xxv. Pag* 67. 

Although I have already made ample extracts from this re- 
of Mr. Spenc< r. I am induced to republish, in this place, 
the v It i- one of thoee able and fearless produc- 

tions whirh the exigeri' u collegiate oonteel required, 

and whirh < nlarg« d and lOODd principle! dictated. The report 
will \»' read with d< t and perfect eonvietion by every 

iodependent citizen. Whatever dinerescef of opinion might 

have: eithtfae MQlllimi of the honourable 

the s« in sonrimnnJ ins produce^ 

by Iht Mr. Bpeacer. One night have 

thought that ti nog the College had becoBM 

miijh rai:\f 01 Ml hOfMI I of tiic l< s^i-lature. 

Si i ii i I '< braarf 28, 1826. 
Mr. Spencer, from ..horn 

wts refer r* i regents ol tin I mvc r- 

-eapecting the < tans and Surgeons in thf 

eHf of Ncw-Vork. reported as follows : — 



134 

The communications of the regentl and other documents sub- 
mitted to your committee, show that the < 'ollege <>f Physicians 
and urgeons in the citj of New-York is at this time in a moil 
deplorable conditioni snd that, without some prompt and ef- 
fectual interference, that institution will be utterly destroyed, 

tho public property wasted, and the objects of former L< 

lunificence wholly disappointed. Your commits • 
alike Btangers to the persons interests, or views of any of the 

contending parties, and having no other motive than the public 
good and the promotion of the best interests of medical sci- 
ence, they feel it to be a solemn duty to state, distinctly and 
directly the true circumstances of the case, in order to exhibit 
the propriety and necessity of the remedy they mean to pro- 
pose. 

On the very institution of the College, it encountered op- 
position from the medical gentlemen attached to the faculty of 
Columbia College, and a Long series of contentions and diffi- 
culties ensued. When these were reconciled, the same spirit 
broke out in the College itself, and the trustees have long been 
arrayed in the most inveterate hostility against the professors. 
It would answer no good purpose to detail these contentions, 
alike reprehensible and injurious ; but it will be sufficient to 
re, that they have occurred in public meetings of the 
boar of trustees of which board the professors are likewise 
members, in the public examinations of pupils, and in the pre- 
sence of the latter, and that they have been most conspicu- 
ously manifested in the communications of the respective par- 
the regents, and in newspaper publications. The cause 
of these differences is to be found in a radical error in the or- 
ganization of the College. The trustees seem to be placed 
there for no earthly purpose, but. to superintend funds to which 
they m no way contribute, and to recommend for degrees pu- 
pQa whom they do not instruct. In the exercise of this last 
duty, a full opportunity is given for the indulgence of those 
feeling! of rivalship and jealousy, for which the medical pro- 



1 3r> 



fession is unfortunately somewhat distinguished, and which are 

Um jjreatcr practice 

m of i profi 39or*fl chaii gives to the incum- 

praciisiog in the same sphere, who have 

not the Buiie advantage, and who ire, therefore, prompt d by 

the - principles of human nature, to maintain 

iati;iL r that of their competi- 
r. And •'. better system (or the creation 
of discord could not w I, than that which thus 

array profession against each other* 

and prompts them I hon by all the hopes of reputation 

and fort i. 

Then- can bo no doubt, therefore, that one of these bodies 
■oat ititution. The 

Colh | QUI d with id u hethcr 

appointed, 

ag as huinan nature 

Thi i publication, ob- 

ject to the piutossoi ird of tru 

at board would restore 
-• that met a mea- 
sure would ha\ . the contrary. As members 
of the bo nd the i laminations 
of the popils, and I ■_ on their fitness for 

trus- 
tees and the profes- musl continue under 

the pre«r: I 1VI BXMIg r< . M>ni to 

nation, « itho it the 

presence and • I i confirmation of 

I •.; from all tin 

learn, an ■ from 

iddreaw • of- 

ficer e any 

n. but on 
leV d U) n.« injurv. 'I 



136 

have wasted the funds ; they have suffered the College to run 
m debt tO the amount of £21,008 : they have done all tlu-y 
could to deter studi intfl from attending : tliey have <;:-;< yarded 
and defied the ordinances of the regtnftfl of the I mversity — 

they bare created cabali among other physicians, and have en- 
fisted th< State medical society, most unworthily and impro- 
perly, m their opposition to the regulations of the regents. 
Your committee have not hesitated, therefore, to recommend 
that some prompt and effectual means be adopted to abolish 
the board of trustees. It is probable that there has been 
such gross abuse and misuser of their offices by many of the 
Dt trustees, that the] might be removed by legal pro- 
ceedings. But in the meanwhile, the College suffers, and new 
incumbents would soon follow in the same path and be en- 
gaged in the same scenes of contention. A more effectual 
remedy will be found in the repeal of the charter of the Col- 
lege, and in the organization of a new institution. All means 
short of this, your committee are convinced, will be utterly 
inefficacious. 

The only remaining question is, whether the legislature has 
power to repeal the existing charter. Your committee can see 
no reason to questioa it. The College is not a private insti- 
tution ; its funds have been contributed wholly by the state, 
which has endowed and is the founder of the institution ; its 
objects are public and general, and no citizen has any sort of 
interest m its property. There are no vested rights in any in- 
dividual or body of men. The trustees arc officers without 
compensation, and can have no riirht to those offices paramount 
to the h -iri>l;iiivi- authority : the professors are subject to re- 
moval by the !• mi cannot pretend to any tenure of 
offices iwimakllf 111 with the power of the legislature. 
■tract has been made by the state with any person or 
persons, in relation to the continuance of the College ; the 
inir mere representatives of the state, can have no 
t in the institution individually, and certainly none which 



137 



could control or limit the power of their principal. And 
your i my ground to doubt that the 

might abolish the institution, and asie of 

it* boiktings mud other property Thej belong to the state. 
- fully at its i spoeal as its public lands. The officers 
of ih- ' of the legislature as 

unties, who are corporations,) the su- 
- mi:-, the superintendent of com- 
mon I or any Other, offices rr.atcd directly or indirectly 
utlmrity. and are U liable tO ha\e their officOS 

■ ir claims to hold their offices inde- 
pendent of the legislative authority, is not bo strong as a simi- 
lar claim of the officers alluded t<> would be, as these offices 
or other pecuniary compensation attached to 
them, while th bare none. They are. t«> every in- 

uad purpose, public officersi appointed under the autho- 

dature to watch over the propert\ of the 
in dutii a relating to medical educa- 
tion : > individual interest whatever in the m- 
stlt,lt I principles which justify 

th« SB rili- r\ itmn- and support tin -• eoinlusionS, are distinctly 

ipn in- court of the I United state. m the 
-nth CoDN ge, reported in the ith volui 
Mr- v ' ioitB; and they are austained by the prac- 

te and of other Hat 

.'< d. whether it if en,,i|M t. h t for the 
legislature tn D ivmjj L'rant. d to the regents of 

ing this College and of al- 
oding its chart r. In the first place the regenti 
the legislature and 
learn, hav< 
pressly consent II think propei 

to pass. Ds^ secondly, if they had no ommittee upon 

the same p irhich they bav< tat* d. cannot mteri 

doubl tha' 

1- 



138 

to raped! the ad cresting the hoard of regents , and it 
bo, n i- b minor power, included wiihin the more general no 

►eal, to resume any portion bf the authority granted by 

t of the regents. For instance, do question probably 

would be raised upon the pdwer of the legislature to repeal 

fee clause authorising the regents to conifer degrees. k*A 

siu. - the adoption of the amended constitution, by which, in 

the opinion of many, no act of incorporation can be granted 
or amended, without the consent of two-thirds of the mem- 
bets elected to both branches of the legislature, it would seem 
the most Baft and proper course, that whatever is done, should 
be done by that body. 

Bettering that there cannot be a rational doubt of the power 
of the iegislatureto repeal the charter of the College of Phy- 
sician, and Burgeons, and solemnly believing that the existence 
of the institution Itself, the great object of medical education, 
and the character of the state, imperiously require the exercise 
Of that power, your committee have prepared a bill for that 
purpose, and for the organization of an institution upon the 
principles Btated m the report of the committee of the board 
of regents, which they instructed their chairman to introduce. 

Themosl important of those principles is, that there shall 
not be two sets of officers in the same institution, so situated 
as to be perpetually engaged in feuds and controversies. The 
professors may discharge all the duties which the interests of 
the institution require. But it would seem necessary that there 
should be BOme Chech to control the expenditures and to pre- 
serve the funds, so as to redeem the debts of the College, pro- 
cure the I cabinets and other means of instruction, 
and accumulate a library adequate to its wants. This may be 
accomplished by authorising the regents to appoint a perma- 
nent board of visitors, to consist of persons not belonging to 
the medical profession, and to be associated with the mayor, 
rder, and first judge of the city of New-York, under 
p/hoM -nperintendencc the funds of the College should be 



139 

i. and also vesting in th the appointment of the 

the purpose of ensuring impar- 
ts should also be 
;ill ,l„,. ippoml temporary visitors, from time to time, to 

be selected from dertrnj at " '" ,! "~ **d ,l,r ;u! '" 

amies, to at t«M: raminnti^fi and to require their re- 

twiiililiiin together with thai of the professors, to entitle 
the candidates to d< l.t< • s. 

i of thr lull ni.u submitted, and Buch 

, ,.,,„ num. e «!- 1 in i>« » ssarj to place this insti- 

levated footingi and in a condition fcQ 

■nam, hi organization. The committee do 

not perceive tin tj of baring any lecondarj corpora- 

to iceoaiplish these objt cts, Tht rt p ata of the Qni- 

u,.,i. sxe uiil> competent to manage 

:, an institution u is proposed. Ind l»y 

restin ■ the sole powi t of control and the sole respon- 

sibih- i d thai many causes of eon- 

>n and difri« nifty nil] be r< mon d. 

ford ■ prompt relief fix the emban 
f | m committee also propose to require 

,1,, tin tn asury of the new 
,-, at of the arnounl n ci iv< d by 
iljgn, | tares, si least until the debts 

, much longer si < ! 

shall ietl rnunr-. T)u cotnp< n.-atmn now receivt d b] thepn - 

feasors will average about f& fof •>• I thl 

,,, trciii | ,i I nt« 1 1 1 1 L r Um ir Of) 

Whet :i '" r '' ''" 

tures occupying al l '' ,! during "»"ly 

nonths of riD be acknowledged bj all, thai 

it will bear ar \ l ,ru ' 

feasors will cheerfully acquiesce 
ibej peseeirt thetthi muds thus obtained will be faithfullj sp- 



I 10 



i Uld character; or if they will not, it i- not doubted thru 

c impotent instnietora may be provided, who would willingly 
receive • compensation <>f > I BOO i«>r the service requiredi and 
would i. it their exertions tended t<> Bustain an institu- 

tion winch would l>r the pride of the profession, and an ho- 
nour and a blessing to the state. And to provide lor any dc- 
\ in the funds of the institution, which may be req 

to pn vent the College buildings and property from being sa- 

crificed at a sheriff's sale, it is also proposed to authorise the 

comptroller to make the necessary loans to the regents of the 
University. 



XXVI. Page 68. 

Reference is here made, among other matters, to the report 
of the committee on medical subjects, presented to the assem- 
bly on the 87th of March, 1826 : a most prejudiced state- 
ment, which the house had too much good sense to enter into 
the consideration of, and which, notwithstanding all its plausi- 
bility, only excited the ridicule of the well informed. It was 
eurioii- enough, to find in the legislature support given, even 
by a single individual, to aboard of trustees who had for years, 
unavailing* criminated the professors of the College> and then 
turned accusers of the board of regents themselves, and who 
considered the conduct of the regents as marked with " ill 
grace" towards them: and as '• .vw. staining the professors in 
tin ir aggressions upon tin laws of the state;" and, moreover, 
who had branded the regents, BS B body exercising supe- 

rerogatory power- and under whose government the Col- 
lege annually had -fairly groaned." That all this and more 
laid <d' the regents, by these trustees, may be seen by a 
i ace t<> their address to the Legislature at this time. Sec 
College minutes. 



Ill 

Bony other luirimaents which the committor on medical 

M Spencer's Mil from the 
•a* 101 inemorial from the proftosofa of the College, 

an< l- ioc. a communication of great force from 

institution now ahom to be graduated. 1 
ibttantial and well writii m paper, and 
' mm ..,!,, L ,v I'm itspreeenf omierioo in 

these othYial : \ ophuoo of i body of well in- 

who bad both seen and fell 

**** P r romphmed of hi the government of the Col* 

od the characta r of both trustees and 

note, it challenged the eerioofl conaideration of all to 

whom the iffiun of the inatitatioo were ■ robject of interest. 

of the class, Bpontaneoni and 

I ; and the profe m oi l had no na-dii to be di-atished 

w » tn * i rning them. 

h ■ ""' of tins Btage of the contro- 

ls - • ■■'- bill wai introdnced into the 
senate. Mr. Hart m the chair] inasmuch u it provided lor an 
•r of things, by tbolishing the present College 
Of Physicians and S , u College without 

Mimaf tru~:> < ~. Mi - r bimself addressed the commit- 

■upport of the bill, bo ■nbstance as follow 

it me diflksuhiei thai existed, the embarra 
and ,: of the College, the collhrioj 

tweer. .'-raorsand » themal-conductof the Qrus- 

i remedy. II< alluded 

also to the apj. medica] locietj by the trafc- 

• and tin ,„■„ iv. bj 

the a '* g i!i< ir regTi I that the 

•• bad thought propei to instruct the 
*■* • - ot •■.< ( oU< l" t<- .ii-< -omiiiiji- defraying the i cpensea 
of a delegate to thai km 

<* the eft- • mu-t | iingly 

uato the interest* of t; [)gt it 



112 



no inconsiderable portion of tho profession throughout the 

This he conceived to bfl highly improper. What, 

said Mr. s. had the medical society to do with the College I 

What wjhi had tiny to interfere I Did they grant the charter 

of the College? Who authorise! them to say what tfa 
gents shall or shall not do ? 1 1« regarded the declaration, that 
the measure! of the regents would array the medical p 

sion against the College, as a weak and improper threat, which 
could not have proceeded from the friends of the College J 
and he added, that the state medical society evidently intended 
to create an unfavourable impression amongst the prole— ion, 
and to create an interest — a lobby interest — to compel the re- 
gents to allow the trustees to go on and squander the fnnds of 
the College. The regents, he said, had taken no notice of 
the resolution, but in relation to their conduct, he stated that 
they did not object to the appointment of a delegate by the 
trustees to the medical society ; over that they assumed no 
power : but as the guardians of the literary fund, they were 
bound to protect it from defraying such charges, and that as 
this was the first instance in which that fund had been diverted 
from its legitimate purposes, they had met it at once.* 

* Reference is here made to an illegal disposition of money, by the 
trustees, to defray the expenses of a delegate, in direct opposition to 
the ordinances of the honourable the regents. The professors on this, 
as on divers other occasions, found themselves outvoted by the other 
trustees ; and were compelled to witness an appropriation of money 
for objects never contemplated by the framers of the laws, and the 
state benefactors who had cherished this school. The professors, never- 
theless, could not but feel chagrined, that the disinterested, unprece- 
dented, and voluntary advances of their earnings, in behalf of the school, 
were thus diverted from the legitimate object of their care ; yet they 
contented themselves with considering the whole business as of a 
character like that of granting to the treasurer of the College two 
and a half per cent, on all monies which passed through his hands. 
Lieut Governor Talmadge states, in his Report to the Regents, that 



1 13 



I, that be alluded to these transactions with rc- 
::. and iull\ substantiated the 
le in the report presented by him aa chairman of 
oa literature. ll< , oncluded by repeating,tlia1 the 
only r onsisted in remormg the sources of the dimcul- 

ties. \ • and riral bodies winch existed under 

Ha preeeai itioa of the institntion. Tins the bill pro- 

posce. b) abolishing the board of trustees, and ap- 

pointing |»m;. d of nsitoi & 

forth in the Qewspapere, of Mr. Span- 
ch when bis bill was about to be introduced t<> the 

LtOi 18, indeed, hut ;i mere outline. 1 was 

present m the chamber, and never saw the upper house more 
II ei usition of the affiura of the Col- 
lege. • the trustnefl and of tne professors, was 

and bj the most convincing arguments. 

ii was given to the orator: there was no 

my. The advocates of the trustee.-, it" anv. 
found. An entire unanimity in behalf of the 

I the venerable senator Smith, 

<>t Id i-ion. for there was no 

disseir It triumph so complete that I shall 

i of Dr. Francis. See, 

the amount of commission- \ the arid treasurer since 18U 

was ooe thousand ttvo hundred Sni fift y at ff dollars seventeen 

cent* : R • . <ld, " the tiuaaiiim upon 

the whole has been w< I 

inttance on record of sue). in a literary eal abliihment, by 

the tr< as too was demanded while the iatti 

was declared to be | rge of sUawlabOO for want of 

rands. 



1 11 



XXVII. P* 

The document containing the resignation of the board of 
ssors will be found below : I have thought it proper to 
de n by the following papers < they bear evidence of 

the spirit of tlio controversy ; and they will carry the convic- 
tion which truth always inspires. 

To the Honourable the Legislature of the State of New-York, 
in Senate and Assembly convened : 

A memorial or remonstrance having been lately presented 
to your honourable body, coming as from the trustees of the 
College of the Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New- 
York- and the undersigned being also trustees of the said Col- 
l nit differing altogether from the statements of the said 
memorial, and pronouncing many of them to be absolutely 
fake and suited to mislead, we beg leave, in vindication of 
truth, as well as the interests of the valuable public institution 
to which we are attached, to request your attention to this our 
counter-memorial. 

Fortunately we ran offer testimony which you may not 
doubt. It is not the unsupported assertion of obscure or 
needy adventurers. It is not biassed by rivalry or malice ; but 
it is the record of a court of justice. It is that report which 
wa- laid upon your table by the judges in the cause ; the Lieu- 
tenant Governor General Talmadge, the Honourable Stephen 
Van Rensselaer, and Mr. Marry the comptroller. When these 
distinguished gentlemen held a visitation in the College last 
June, on behalf of tli« regents, it was to hear the cause be- 
tween the professors and trustees. These, our opponents 

were loud, unmeasured, and incessant in their 

Charges. They wire called upon tO prove them; but they 
did not even attempt that ; they then abandoned them. We 



oped in such lucid order, 

.d withal, after I main 

I in that abk towards those tni 

whot actuated by rivalry 

thru turn round, in despera- 

It i- true they rery much 

disappointed tho?< for they did not remOTC the 

professors as was f- nor did they rarrendei their 

own powers to tha' \ r resort, 

it approaches t iturc, and feeling thems< Ives u<» l( 

m irheo before the court, they conclude 
tall be m\. 
:nii<j the concerns of the College— of 
filling appointing their own / 

and niak own hy-laws and regulations. Nou tin- 

clorcn foot ui. :id all thr CUmOUf about abusi |, 

which mad. its annual j Ml. any. and rented itS) If 

wuii soliciting the 
•. and letting them* 
in. 'I dying 

• it ondoubti i\)\ af- 
are likely to continue. 
•i th< ir in memorial 

duty 
i dical 
profurion which th> . |, ;i , the] 

to themselves, wc presur mt of 

that matter ; and :. the medical pn 

we deny I 
and we know tl. I 

nil to the just imp 

i 

i I 



146 



Tin • fearful, they allege, of being deprived of an 

/,//// rigJUt it' the suggestion of the regents should take 
effect, to prevent them, in future, from intermeddling with the 
mmendation <>t" candidates for degrees. Hut they would 
be ponied t<> Bpecify the importance to them of such right of 
interference, unless it consist in the opportunity of annoyance ; 
and then whether it be important or not, depends on the dis- 
position to use it. They know best what solace that oppor- 
tunity would yield them. We know that it set the students in 
■ ferment last spring, that it was then a great source of trouble 
and vexation to the regents, and that now, for the sake of its 
being retained in very unfit hands, they and the professors are 
maligned to the legislature. 

" Believing, " say the trustees in another paragraph, " tliat 
neither boys, nor persons uninstructed in the medical profes- 
sion, are competent to take charge of the health and lives of 
their fellow-creatures, your honourable body has wisely enacted 
that no person shall be licensed to practice physic until he shall 
reached the age of twenty-one years, and shall have gone 
through a term of study prescribed by law." And then they 
add '• that in March, 1825, eleven persons received the doc- 
tor's degrec^/rowi the hands of the Regents, who were not le- 
gaUy qualified." We would ask those candid and conscien- 
tious complainants, if a person aged twenty years and eleven 
months is a boy; and if a person, having studied two years 
three hundred and thirty-five days, and attended two courses 
of lectures, the law requiring three years, is to be deemed un- 
inatructed? Their insinuation would imply the affirmative ; 
;md when they maintain such nonsense, we do not envy them 
their intellects. One gentleman, on whom the regents confer- 
red a degree, lacked one month of being twenty-one. lie 
u. ut immediately after to Europe to improve his knowledge, 
and but for the liberal discretion of the heads of the Univer- 
bave Maid a year longer at home. Every medical 
man knows that it is most advantageous for a young physician 



1 IT 



to travel when lie has jjraduat. d. A second tacked one month 
of pupilage, ami a third tin « of being of agO. One 

of them was from the West Indie-, ami must else have 

. or remained lure eleven month- to 

put m ihr i. He olhei was of i different state from 

our own. supreme power baa a sound discretion. The 

ich a power in regard to conferring degrees, 

ami nobody of anbiassed \ it «rs r. :_ r rrt- that it is Lodged with 

ited. 
The remaining eighl graduates were from otb< and 

i a- distant a- Georgia, Alabama, and Maine* 

They all | ation. whieh limy signed with their 

nunc- af roll age, had completed throe years 

study, and d their ti« beta of the lectured. Noa 

If of the state, nor ordinance of the r< ir«Mits to 

and pupilage arc to lie exclusively proved, 
competent to the regents to accept of such 

fficient. We l t o further to com- 

mum for then more ample ami i 

inatrurtinii. tint there is no law t<> restrain the regents from 

hey -hall see lit in their sound 
and liberal di-r r . tion. mdeed, m the ted section of the act 
passed ISth April. 1810, it is further enacted, that no College 

'' SV1 c'uin> N shall Confer a diplo- 

ma I i of medicine, upon any Student, 

until- -hall have complied with the requisitions 

conta a of the art. sec. passed Both 

April. ini8. By the -aid first section, no p< rrson mail be ad- 
raittr indidate for the practice of 

i ism r< fore, 

oonferr 

trustees, i their reasoning, apply to i! 

genta what is enacts 

Bavyasew. 



The eleven persons who received the doctor-' d< do the 

hands of the r< id who were not legally qualified, la 

the trustees pretend, were persona, nevertheless, who had been 

( vwiiined and found tit. and who were then recommended to 

the regents under the seal <»f the College in official form, by 

B rote of trustees, of whom the complainant- were part, and 

the professors a minority. Effrontery like this, with which the 

nts are now assailed for degrees so conferred, is happily 
not common, and we regret the necessity of proving it upon 
men whose profession is honourable, whatever be its members. 
Pending the chicanery with the candidates, one of them, Mr. 
J. of New Jersey, being asked how old he was, replied that he 
did not know, but that his eldest son was more than seventeen 
years. It was therefore presumed that he was himself twen- 
ty-one, and he passed without a certificate of nativity. Ano- 
ther, a Mr. II. from the state of Maine, answered to a demand 
for a certificate to his term of studies that he had none to 
oiler, for that his preceptor was twenty years dead, but that he 
is himself an old practitioner in medicine, and that for many 
years he had been in the employment of the United States. 

Between 1811 and 1820, when the professors chiefly had 
charge of the College," its pecuniary embarrassments arose." 
Hut during that period the College was built, and altered, and 
repaired ; and after that another building was added as large 
as the first, and all this cost money. But that one penny of 
t went to the professors, is as false as the imputation or 
insinuation is uncandid. The gentlemen trustees made the 
moat of this inculpation before the visiting court last June, and 
their present spleen is all that remains of their fruitless efforts. 
When they came within the lists with the professors and had to 
fight with specific charges and proofs, their blustering was at 
an end ; they were con.-traincd to confess that they had no 

urits to prefer. (Report of the committee of the rc- 
- nts, p. i 



14!> 



Daril iod," say the trustors. " the peneral 

ina in relation to examinational and qualifica- 

fbf gradual iled BQOll universal disgust, that the 

utianiinoiudy arose and preferred charges 

;:_... ilir rrirrnN." More assertion, — the 

Intel of ■■ uly discredited. The profession that 

imethai mofesnow — just fourteen in nnm- 
tre oo the College minutes: they were 

tJici t tlr v ire now 

the agitators of the trust They preferred charges freely 

;t it ii untrue t'uat they proved them. Their charges 
• the prof, mors, and their selfish objects were 
Why, it' there was any truth in the 
in, did ool th< -<■ vituperating trus- 
tees hrmu it forward before the court of visitors lasflbne, 
j had so fair SO opportunity I They did not want 
.ill. Why, if univcr.-al disgust existed against the pro- 
fessor- anion:: the memlx rs of the profession, did DO one in- 
dividual. iMe body, appear to 
ri these trust es I The whole ssper- 

of probability, and shows how fortunately 
painful it ■ for folly and rnalevoluiee to j.r< serve consist 

lateSS that the regents were 

t tiic truth of then is, thai the vacancies in 

. ill!, d up wit i men. In this tin r< is 

;ill< (red a of the 

osesnsible pmushmenl : although ss so or« 
gini/ t og i- 6\ i ply to l" lament d. 

But | i,d : political conaiderationi min- 

gled, at last, with I ! : ' doOf to 

some persons which s' dd have shut in tin 

all these u that the 

professor* should be an to the tr busi 

in tbii 
■ 



ISO 



ntith.ii. Who Bade it their boaiaesi to regulate thecon- 
i of the College? The charter grants them no such 

piiurr, and the regents gwe them lOQfe 1^ DOt all their tur- 
moil o\viiiL r to a vain Itniggli lor that very thing, which, be- 
M they have it not, they arc endeavouring to get ? The 
Qta alone arc by law the governors of the College. They 
make all the appointments in it ; all the ordinances concerning 
it ; th<v eonfer its degrees, and the law provides that they 
alone shall do these things. What then, in reality, arc the 
trustee? ? They arc an anomalous, useless, contentious, med- 
dling bodyj that has done much harm and no good ; which, 
under the ambiguity of a name, seeks for authority that the 
law has vested in better hands, and strives to assimilate to the 
common seminaries of learning, an institution of the highest 
ordefln science ; and which, of all things, requires to be go- 
verned by persons who can have no personal interest in the 
disposal of its professorships. 

It must be obvious to your honourable body, as it has been 
long since acknowledged by the attentive spectators of this 
controversy, that, failing to rule the College, the trustees are 
seeking to overthrow it ; but the institution is far too important 
to the public welfare for you to suffer it to fall a prey to anar- 
chy. The school of medicine at New-York claims your espe- 
cial care ; among other things, for the peculiar facilities af- 
forded by this city for supplying those resources that are indis- 
pensable to a medical education. With the simple extension 
of an existing law, this city can always furnish subjects enough 
for dissection. Then would exhumation, at which every feel- 
mi: of the human heart revolts, which is alike odious to the 
enlightened and the ignorant — exhumation, witli all the horrors 
which the imagination associates to its practice, would cease 
r. The very apprehension of it would be lost. The 
public mind would be tranquilized, the dead would reel 
undisturbed, and the sepulchre be sacred. It is only in this 
:-art of our state that all these advantages arc combined. 



1 -"> 1 



here that we find multitude ■ from all nations un- 
claimed and uneonnecit d. without relatnes 01 fuends to 

defirt] met of Iheii interment, and who might thorn- 

i ithou! ofl nee to the mot! deheate emotion, of 

our nature, to promota the safety and happiness of the living. 

of thii city, by bringing it within the 

law of the state 00900, would, m oonjonotion with that re- 

iffiee to the demand : while a new restraint 

of a most powerful characll i- WOllld, by this additional enact- 
pil( UDOO immorality and crime. 

Wi I m aaid enough to prove how unfounded are all the 
rea of those tr inat tho professors <>f the College 

Uttl and S . for we have shown it from their 

own admissions, \\ aaid enough to prove how much 

their motives are personal and interested] for we have shown 
ial to yourselves. As to the case between 
us and them v. i i'nat it should go before your im- 

partial tribunal, and before the public; expecting, indeed, 
WOffl pom thai you will protect, or more fully enable 

the honourable the regentfl to pr< SSffVOthifl valuable institution. 
All Ctfijllv Submitted 

RIGHT POST, Iff. I* 

Profooaor of Anatomy tad Pbyuolorj- 

I'WII) B0BA4 K. M. I). 

Profcaeor of the Theory and Practice of Phywc ejej , fo 

WM. JAMES MAI M.VI.V M. [>. 

-\Ml II i HILL. M.J). 

rVoieaeor of BoUaj aad Materia Mi-:. 

v LLENTDfE MUTT, ML l>. 

ft SMnq §f Sajyi ry. 

II. D 

Frotaaaor of Obetetrice aad the Dieaaao. 



>«>- York, February 



1 52 



Annual Report to the Honourable the Regents of the I'nirer- 
sity, from the Professors of the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons in the City of New- York. 

TO THE HO>\ THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY. 

Wlicrcas the paper purporting to be the report of the trus- 
tees of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the city of 
New-York, offers an incorrect view of the state of this insti- 
tution for the last year, the professors, under a pressing sense 
of duty, respectfully submit, for the better information of the 
regents, the following account : 

The number of students has diminished nearly one fourth 
this session, and the mortifying fact is slurred over by the trus- 
tees without explanation. Is it because they cannot charge it 
upon the professors ? for these are still the same men with 
whom the College lately nourished ; and as yet they have in 
no wise relaxed in assiduity, declined in reputation, nor lost 
any portion of their credit with the votaries of physic. The 
fault does not lie at their door. It is solely the result of the 
mischievous intermeddling of the trustees with the examina- 
tions last spring, and of their infringement of the charter at 
that time ; of their assuming powers beyond what it allowed 
them, and falling, of consequence, into personal altercations 
with the candidates. During some of these dissentions,, they 
attempted to make candidates confess against themselves, and 
others they asked to inform against their comrades ; which, if 
any had been seduced to do, w r ould, among young men of 
their age and spirits, be probably followed by duels and blood- 
shed. 

All this proceeding served to disgust and alienate the for- 
eign students. 

The obtrusive circular of those trustees was a sequel to the 

same disorganizing conduct, and a second injury to the Col- 

Twicc by their absence they deprived the professors of 



153 



an opportunity of trott insj the accustomed circular sanctioned 

at a College meeting, ami afterwards contradicted by one of 

their own, that which the professors thought it ncccssarx to 

at last, in order to announce the medical lectures through 

the country. 

The trustees in their opposition circular threaten that they 
will exact of all candidates, " the most rigid compliance with 
the cnactni. :.;-." &C. Such enunciation from the same gen- 
en who had 80 signalized themselves in the spring, was 
ing but calculated to invite students. "Why should they 
come to be tortured in Xcw-York, when they are sure of being 
well received in Philadelphia — treated with kindness, and ho- 
noured with decrees upon passing a fair and liberal examina- 
tion ? The rules and laws of the State and College arc of 
cours- rented : but it should be in mercy, not in ven- 

geance. Summum jus is not unfrcquently summa injuria. A 
rigid treatment is what nobody will voluntarily court. Hence, 
DS from the southern states, who were fond of coming to 
ollegc heretofore, have turned to Philadelphia and Balti- 
more casion. 

riffict between the professors and those trustees is 

.i;e of the College. As to who is in fault, you have made 

uiry. and we would be well satisfied that you could act 

according to the fact--. We cannot obey two masters. You 

are the BUjM riors ol tlir College <fe ./ //7V; > and the trustees are 

_• 1 i n L r to br masters de facto. You will find that the pro- 
fessors never attempted to usurp your powers — you will find 
that tii- ttempted it invariably. To you we pay 

a will; : but have an invincible aversion to be 

tied by t : or thr ii 

As the income of the College is chiefly derived from Btu- 
ota will 1. obs< r\« , thai • 

calculi 

under the con- 
■ 



154 



With tin' decrease of students will also fall the earnings of the 
- ; so that the plan of finance, first suggested by the 
treasurer, of paying the current expenses and debts of the 
College in great part out of their emoluments, is very unsub- 
stantial. It appears to the professors to possess so little soli- 
dity that they have come to the firm determination of calling 
in immediately the moneys that are due to them, before the 
College property by age, dilapidation, or other misfortune shall 
fall any further in value. Of this they have given due notice 
to the Corporation of the College, and they humbly hope it 
will meet with your approbation and support. A motion for 
referring their application to a committee was negatived by the 
trustees, so that they have no more hope from that quarter. 

The most welcome settlement to the professors would be an 
immediate repayment of the debt ; but if this be not practica- 
ble, they are willing that skilful and indifferent persons shall 
value the estate, and they will accept of it at such valuation. 
The balance, should there be any, going to whomsoever it may 
belong. The injuries which the College is daily sustaining 
for want of repairs, make the professors anxious to recover 
their debts in time, or acquire the legal right of preserving the 
property. 

The divisions on the annual report and the professors' debts 
arc given in the annexed schedule. It will serve to show the 
most prominent agents. All which is respectfully submitted. 
WRIGHT POST, M. D. 

I'rolV-Mir of Anatomy and Physiology. 

DAVID HOSACK, M. I). 

ProftMOl of iIk Tli '.ry and I'rnrtirc "f Pliysic and Clinical Medicine. 

W'M. JAM!.- M LCNEVEN, M. D. 

Prut'i --or ii!' (.'In nii-iry. 

BAM1 EL I.. MITCHILL, M.D. 

tttthmat of Hoi:i iica. 

v \u;vn\i; MOTT, M. D. 

Professor of Siir;." ry 

JOHN VY\ FRANCIS, M. 1). 

ica and the Diseases of Women and Children. 



City <>f New-York, Feb. 20, 1826. 



155 



RESIGNATION. 

To the Honourable the Regents of the Vnirersity of the state 
of \ t w-York. 

City Of Nlw-Yokk. April 11, 1886.* 
We, the undersigned, Professors and Officers of the College 

of Ph '.I Sur<_ T eon< in tin 1 < it] of New-York, in eor- 

itfa the news by which we were influenced in 

our coounanication of yesterday, made t<> youi honourable 

cting moreover on the peculiar government of 

anomaly in medical schools, arc fully persuaded 

that ■ OnsnU our Belfrespect, by withdraw inn altOge- 

Grom tin- institution. We. therefore, hereby tender our 

resignation- of the professorships and offices we respectively 

hold therein : and we take this opportunity of renewing our 

nil acknowledgments for the various and distinguished 

mark- of confidence the EtegentS have aeeo lit. from time to 
inns. 

\V. b ive the honour to be. 

With high reaped and consideration, 

I)\\ ID HOSA< K. 11 D. 

• *idcnt, arvl ProfcMor of the Tlicon, raid I'm 
Phyiic and < 

\vm. .i LUES MAI m:\ev If. D. 

i II. U MIT( HILL. ft I). 

I *»or of Materia Ml B '.my. 

VAi.r.N tim: mott. ft i>. 
joiin w. ri. kNClB, M. D. 

Proflmor of Obttathec and the Ducaao of Womm ->• 
drcn, and Re guitar of tho follefe. 

av pnor t Dr Pokt had individually ten- 

dered in his retigoat 



156 



I %ents of tlu University of ike 8to 

v. April 17, 1 

Tii' P >n of the ( 'nllcLT*' of Physicians and Surgeons, 

in the city of New-York, having tendered to their 

nation of the several offices held by them in Baid College, 
it sras thereupon 

Rt solved. That the same be accepted : and further, that 
the thanks of the Regents be presented to the said Professors, 
for the faithful and able manner in which they have filled their 
respective chairs is instructors and lecturers in the said Col- 

A true extract from the minutes of the Regents. 

G. IIawley, Secretary. 



Appointments made by the Honourable the Regents of the 
University at their different sessions, in the College of Phy- 
sician* and Surgeons [in the city of New- York, since its 
foundation. 

07. 
NICHOLAS EtoXAYlfS, M. D. President and Lecturer on 
Anatomy. 

!.. 'linim.L. M.I). Vice President, and Profes- 
; -try. 

stabs Mii.u.k, M.I). Professor of the Practice of Phy- 
ret 00 Clinical Medicine. 
Own) I M.I). Professor of Materia Mcdica and 

:iy. and Lecturer on Surgery and Midwifery. 



157 

Ae. II, D. Professor of Minertlo 

B. M. D. I of the Institutes of Mcili- 

try. 

x MAVM-. M.D. IVcf. -or of the Institutes of 

Samtoh L Mir.iin.i. M.1>. r Natural History 

and Bot;. 

■• \i:n Mn t n:. M.l>. l of tin- Practice of Me- 

dicine, ai, : on ( HinicaJ Medicine. 

ini.un M.D. ProfesBOI of Materia Medica 

and Mineralogy. 

M. I), r f Chemistry. 

LMJJi .1. M\ MLD. Professor of Obstetrics, 

and I. -cases of Wimn n and Children. 

I. I Smith, M.D. Professor of Anatomy and 

1811. 

Upon the rr of the C D April 1811, 

Samuel Bard, M. I), rftfl President, and the fol- 

lowing persons assun- d the dntiefl of the re stations 

1 W n i. M. I). \ I nt. and Lectures 

:ir a . 

S nil. M.I). ProfesiQi of Anatomy, 
Surgery, a; 

•fessor of I r 

ucc of P I tan r on Mid- 

*ii' ?':■ 

Wii.u \m James M I P ' 

8 am < \ i. L Mm inn.. M. h. Pro! - m 
tory. 



158 



1813. 



Upon the consolidation of the two Medical Schools, the fol- 
lowing ippointmentH were made. 

Samuel P. \i:i». M. I). President. 

Dr. \\ki.;iii Post and John Aioistim: Smith, M. D. 
joint ProfesBOri of Anatomy, Physiology, and Surgery. 

DAVID SobaoK, M. D. Professor of the Theory and Prac- 
tice of Pfajact 

Wii.i.ivm Hxmersley, M. D. Professor of the Clinical 
Practice of Medicine. 

John C. Oshorn, M. D. Professor of Obstetrics and the 
Diseases of Women and Children. 

William Jakes Macneven, M. D. Professor of Chemis- 
try and Pharmacy. 

James S. Stkinuham, M. D. Professor of Medical Juris- 
prudence. 

Vai.im im. Mott, M. D. Professor of the Principles and 
Practice of Surgery. 

John W. Francis, M. D. Professor of Materia Medica. 

Samuel L. Mitciiill, M. D. Professor of Natural His- 
tory. 

Benjamin I)e Witt, M. D. Vice President, and Professor 
of Natural and Experimental Philosophy. 

1814. 

After this year, Dr. Post was sole Professor of Anatomy 
and Physiology. 

1816. 

The Professorship of Materia Medica was added to that of 
Chemistry, and Dr. Francis appointed Professor of the Insti- 
tutes of Medicine. 






1818. 

Dr. Qmobm vithdren and tbechaii of Midwifery ares filled 
- m k. Professor of the Practice. Dr. Sri 
ii vm resignedi and the ehtii of Medical Jariaprudence 
filled l>\ Johm W. Pi un eb, also Professoi of the tnstitul 

i 

•i i i B \i;i'. Iff. D. Preside nt 
\\ ku.iit PetTi M. 1>. Vkt President 
Dvmd HoSAOE, M. D. ProfestOf of Institutes and Prac- 
P 

Wru.iit P«»m\ M.I). Professor of Anatomy and Physi- 

\\imi\m J amis M \i m \ ia. M.I). Professor of Clie- 
mistn . 

S\mim L Mm hill. M. D. Professor of Botany and 

William II . M. D. Professor of tin: Clinical 

'•' 
Valentine Mott, M.I). Professor of Surgery. 

-. M.D. I'm • --"r of Obstetrics and the 
Diseases of Women and Cliildr* Q. 

i • rable President, Dr. Barb, 

Whu.ht Post, M. D. was appointed thereto, and Datttj 

.1. I) 'n-id* nt. The ehtii of ClinicsJ Prae- 

rabip, 
i ■ (»ry and Prac- 
tice o i 



HJO 



in the foregoing statement it may be seen how frequent 
and numerous were the changes in the College, during the 
memorable cycle <>f nineteen years. Thus, subsequent to the 
original organization of the school, the several departments 

of teaching have been as tulle 



Anatomy. 
John Augustine Smith) 

Wright Post. 

Chemistry. 
Benjamin De Witt, 
William James Macncven. 

Obstetrics. 
William James Macncven, 
John C. Osborn, 
David Hosacki 
John W. Francis. 

Natural Ph ilosophy. 
Benjamin De Witt. 

Natural History. 
Benjamin De Witt, 
Samuel L. Mitchill. 

Mineralogy. 
Archibald Bruce. 

Legal Medicine. 
James S. Stringham, 
John W. Francis. 



Practice of Physic. 
Edward Miller, 
David Hosack. 
Surgery, 
John Augustine Smith, 
Valentine Mott. 

Materia Mcdica. 
Archibald Bruce, 
Benjamin De Witt, 
John W. Francis, 
William James Macnevcn, 
Samuel L. Mitchill. 

Institutes. 
Benjamin De Witt, 
John W. Francis, 
David Hosack* 

Clinical Medicine. 
Edward Miller, 
William Hamcrsley, 
David Hosack. 

Botany. 
Samuel L. Mitchill. 



l)i \.j\mi\ Da Witt, M. D. Much might be said of the 

liich Dr. De Witt rendered to the College, more 

particularly in obtaining the liberal grant from the state of 

00. He was prematurely cut oil' by the yellow fever, 

while in the discharge Of Ins oflicial duties of physician of the 

port of New-York, in 1 



161 



Howard Miller, M. D. A biographical account of tins 
eminent individual may be seen in the Ainetican Medical and 
Philosophical Register, vol. iii. Also in Dunlap's Recorder, 

and in the edition of his Medical Writings, published By Ins 
hrolher. the Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller. 

M D. v, as the son of Dr. John Os- 

ible physician, who was born at Middletown, 

1 Hatch 1741, and who received bis medical 

• Hartford. iiikI. r Dr. Mom>on. an eminent Scott h 

He pursued his profession at Ifiddleton n until liis 

death, which to<»k place at the advanced age of B4 and up- 
ware.- . AugUf 

John (. Osboro snu die eldest son, and born at the last 

sanctioned place in September 1 7 » ■ « ; . He received ins clas- 
sical education at Middl.town. under the Etev. Enoch Hun- 
inent scholar ; and his medical education ex- 
clu>i\rlv. under tna father. He was not distinguished by any 
academic honour till he became eminent in hia profession in 
I .. tii winch state he removed in i 787. Here be 

Was w< II known il a lUC CO H Sfu l practitioner- and \i;i> repeat- 
edly plaet d at the bead of the medica] society of the district. 

m»e to t: A ,,ik u id WSJ shortly 

! to a large scene of practice . 1 1, v. as en 

of medicinCi in the medical fa- 

of Columbia College, and upon the union of that faculty 
with ■ I age of Physiciani and Burgeons, be wi 
posnaed pn • obsfc trici and the disee* - of women and 

eJassfa II. .:,. .1 of i pulmonary disord r, in the island of 
of hi- landing, Marco B I i K 
\Nith hi^ prosaaaVona] aradition, Dr. Osbora united 

ad ha knowh dge of booki wai raried 

n di-pla\.,| n, his 
courses of public ii . I i 

a* as vsj aqnatt I ha kao 



J 62 

actual medical qualities »>f the native productions of our soil, 
H Bfl a subject winch he delighted to investigate. As the vene- 
rable Thatcher, Barton, and others, by their writings, so did 
Dr. Oaborn in his practice and by his instructions, earnestly 
enjoin an acquaintance with these important remedial agentij 
on the practisers of medicine in the various sections of our 
country. 

Dr. Samuel Osborn, the only member of this family who 
survives, is a younger brother, a practitioner of medicine 
in this city, and delegate to the state medical society. 

Archii'.ali) Brice, M. D. A biographical account of 
Dr. Bruce may be found in Professor Silliman's Journal. 

James S. Stkingiiam, M. D. I have been favoured by my 
colleague, Dr. Francis, with the following biographical sketch 
of Dr. String-ham. 

" Dr. James S. Stringiiam was born in the city of New- 
York, of respectable parents, whose circumstances in life hap- 
pily enabled them to furnish to their son the opportunities of 
a liberal education. lie prosecuted his classical studies in 
Columbia College, and was graduated there in 1793. His 
habits and disposition inclined him to the theological profes- 
sion ; and for some time after he had received his collegiate 
honour in the arts, he pursued a course of learning for the 
ministry, as I am informed by his most intimate friend, the 
reverend president of this institution. His health becoming 
delicate, from an attack of hemoptysis? he relinquished, with 
reluctance, this intention. He now entered upon a course of 
medical education, under the care of the late Dr. S. Bard and 
Dr. David Ilosack, and attended with exemplary diligence, 
for several years, to all the branches of medicine then taught 
by the faculty of physic in New- York* He subsequently pro- 
ceeded to Edinburgh ; became a student in the University of 



163 

that renowned capitol, add id 1798 received there the degree 

. D. Within a N ry >hort time after hifl return to his n;i- 

I professor of chemistry in Columbia 
in the place of the learned and distinguished Dr. 
had tor many years filled thai chair, and to whom 
lebtedfbrthe first introduction of the French nomen- 
clature of chemistry in this country. Dr. S., however, not 
ied with tl . and anxious tor a more extended 

IS, now voluntarily prepared a course on 
His varied and classical erudition rendered 
tndertaking one peculiarly agreeable to him ; and to the 
students who attended his lectures, it proved a source of gra- 
tification equally novel and instructive. The utility of tho 
s ci e nce was cheerfully acknowledged l>y all. 

•• Saving long laboured under an alarming organic dis 
of the heart, and finding his constitution materially impaired, 
Dr. Stringham resigned his office as professor of chemistry in 
I College; but upon the union of the medical faculty 

of that institution with the College of Physicians and Sur- 

I in 1813, be Was induced to aCCOpl the professorship of 
medical juri-prude: tins office became too opprrs>i\ a 

from the I I of his health ; hopes which he had che- 

rished were shortly to be . and he was doomed to irre- 

mediable and premature death. For years he bad 

borne with ma: ice and christian expectation the trials 

of a i :nt. The cheering counst 1 of lu^ 

Li urged him to repair to the island of Bt Croix, forth.' 

vain hope of a renewal of bis health. Thither he Went and 

17. 

uigund dissertation, " De absorbentium 
the author of several > 
and [ II. published 

ccount of the 

action of the 
-a description of s n markable 



164 



unal vermes — an account of the violent (fleets of corro- 
si?e sublimate — and a ease of hydrocephalus s in the Phila- 
delphia Medical Museum, a paper on the effects of mercury, 
in a case "i' syphilis, and in the Edinburgh Medical and Sur- 
gical Journal, a paper on the yellow fever of America, in 
vrhkh lie maintained the specific character and contagious 
nature 1 of that disorder. 

" A syllabus of the lectures of Professor Stringham, on 
Medical Jurisprudence, is contained in the American Medical 
and Philosophical Register." — Dr. Francis' Introductory Dis- 
course. 



XXVIII. Page 79. 

RUTGERS MEDICAL COLLEGE. 

(circular.) 

City of New-York Oct. 28^, 1826. 

The late Professors of the College of Physicians and Sur- 
- having seen fit to withdraw from that institution, without 
thereby intending to relinquish their accustomed functions, 
have organized another Medical College, in which all but two 
of the former faculty take part, and the remaining vacancies 
arc filled by gentlemen of distinguished fame and acknow- 
ledged ability. It afibrds them high gratification to state, that 
by the unanimous concurrence of the Board of Trustees of 
Rutgers College, they have been constituted the Medical Fa- 
culty of that institution, and that the Board of Trustees will, 
on the recommendation of said Faculty, confer the degree of 
DoCtOf of Medicine. 

All the means of instruction to be derived from an extensive 
cabinet of anatomical and surgical preparations, and a full 



165 



supply of subjects lor dissection : from valuable collections o€ 
imtur.il history, botajty, mineralogy, ami chemical apparatus 
will be amply afforded in tins College to the votaries of inedi- 

' TV. 

1 70s Qf 77//; (OU.E< 
Damp 1 If. !). I\ EL S. President of (he Medietd 

Faculty. 

vi I.. Minimi. M.I). LL. I>. Ro« President. 
Pmi 8. TowmnDi M. I>. Pecristrar. 

PROFESSOPs 

* 1)\vipH"^(K. M. 1>. h r ofeM W of the Institutes and 
Pract ind Clinical Medicine. 

Win i w .1 \mi- M \cm \ in. If, 1). Professor of Thera- 

M< diet. 
V u IfolTi If. 1>. Professor of Surgery. 

m 0, M. D. Professor of Obstetrics and Fo- 
M 

• ■, \ M. D. Pn.f« 9B0t of Anatomy and Phy- 

l L. I). Pmt, -sor of Chcim-try. 
The se% nOI Of in-truction will comincnre on the 

ettbei I Bering, and terminate on the lad 
day of February. 

r;/?j/;rj,70.v. 

graduation mUS< have attained the age of 

Bverj itodeni ii re quir ed to attend two full eo uia ei of all 

the lertnr ' i j f . before be can be ■ ran- 

unless said student shall baft pre m- 

• The Lecture* on fared b] I 

• titutetar. »f Medicioe, and included in his course. 



1G6 



ousU attended one entire course of lecture?, delivered in some 
respectable medical school or university. 

On or before the first of February, the candidate shall make 

known his name and intention to the president, or one of the 

professors, by whom he will be informed of the time and place 

of examination. The examination is by the board of profes- 

onlv : it is private and confidential. 

The names of those who have been approved by the Medical 
Faculty are forwarded to the president and trustees of Rutgers 
College, who return an equal number of diplomas, under the 
signature of the president. They are afterwards signed by 
the medical professors. 

By the 20th of March, the candidate shall deliver to one of 
the professors a dissertation on some medical subject. He is 
publicly examined on the same, in the College Hall, the first 
Monday in April, and may publish, with the approbation of 
one of the professors, either in the English, French, or Latin 
languages. The degrees conferred, will be delivered by the 
president, on the following day, at the public commencement. 

From the provision thus made, it will be seen, that the va- 
rious courses of lectures, delivered in the College, arc so ar- 
ranged, as to constitute a complete system of medical educa- 
tion. The board of professors, however, think it incumbent 
on them to state, that it has been their unremitted endeavour 
to increase, as far as practicable, the means of instruction, and 
to render the advantages enjoyed by the College, at least equal 
to those of any other similar establishment in the United 
States. 

The former pupils of the professors will be admitted as here- 
tofore, and the medical officers of the United States' army and 
navy arc invited on the same footing as graduates. Students 
who shall have attended two entire courses arc afterwards ad- 
mitted free of expense. 



Hi? 



THE GOLD MEDAL, 
I '.. HiAuv Ruiums, with his characteristic generosity, 
I in perpetuity the premium of a (>olrf Mddal % 

awarded annually to the student of this institution \v1k> 
shall exhibit the most >atiMactory testimonial of talent and 
attainment in medical science, in hi- inangaraJ dissertation lor 
the doctorate. The hum to be ipproved by the hoard of pro- 
fessors, and th to n it with them. The honour to be 
delivered to th ttul candidate at the public Commence- 
ment 

Published by or<h r. 

DwiD Hm.ur, M.I). President. 

Pi ilk S. TuwilBXJID, M. 1>. Registrar. 



XXIX. Page 

The following extracts are taken from the Introductory 
ral of my colleagues, delivered upon the 
opening of Rutgcr 1 College, in November, 1826. 

/' P ■ ' §or Macneven. 
Some mdmduali of the profession have inconsiderately 

found fault with Rutgers College for the estimation in which 

it is pleased to hold the former : of the College of 

I i th< ir con* quenl adoption, ss ■ faculty ofme- 

- highly respectable body. Bui whether this 

i to sci< nee of tie interest of our 

ition of it will result in its 

• - that in our sister itate no i' ilousy 

is entertained of on- kindly tr 

asitsown; its literary honours, to tin di comfitureof 
our enemies, being as f: m the left, m if 



16U 



\\« li?ed 00 the right bank of the river. Rutgers College 
■ y embraces the republic of letters as one whole, and 
detail Within its common domain all those who cultivate the 
liberal arts. It is an important example, no less than i deci- 
sive proof of their own enlarged views, which the governors 

of that College give in tins memorable act ; and it is far more 
consonant to the spirit of the age, which is improving pro- 
gree ai f o ly with its liberality, than the churlish selfishness which 
retires within narrow prospects and party exclusions. 

M Of all parties the worst for this country is, that which should 
be founded on geographical discriminations ; for our greatest 
good is not alone the permanency, but also the cordiality of 
our union. The sublime father of the nation was so sensible 
of the conduciveness of common literary institutions to this 
most desirable end, and generally to the dissemination of cor- 
rect, patriotic principles, that he bequeathed a considerable 
estate for the establishment of a comprehensive National Uni- 
versity. That enlightened provision which, no where as yet, 
has been carried into operation upon the enlarged and bene- 
ficial plan of Washington, has at least been adopted in prin- 
ciple, and for the first time made effective between two con- 
terminous States, through the wisdom and good feeling of 
Rutgers College. 

" Already had an eminent individual of our city, distinguished 
alike for his ample fortune and the liberal and pious use he 
makes of it, thought fit to revive a languishing University at 
our door, by a munificent endowment. This venerable patriot, 
of the Washington school, did not hesitate to support the 
MUM of learning in New-Jersey, and the College of New- 
Jersey, equally devoid of local prejudice, as little hesitated to 
take for its faculty of medicine, a set of professors from New- 
York. 

1 may say of my colleagues that they are not unknown to 
fame, and that the ability which distinguished them in other 
situations, will not desert them in this. Happily we now de- 



1 69 



pend altogether on our own exertions and have no master but 
the public the most impartial of nil others. For our own 
success and remuneration, we look solely to the general ft 
that -hall bs entertain, »l of our deserts. Competition w€ <1<> 
ire object only to monopoly, the real object of 

Hit J in iv i n,l, ;i\iuir to disguise it, who e:i\il 
>n with the I ' i li \ i • r > 1 1 y of our SJBterstate. 

•■ T inect to call this act an interference with 

the jurisdiction \ -Yorki whereas, if there be interference 
atall.it is with New-Jersej itself, unee persons, not of that 

hut of tin-, arc honoured with M ats in its University. 

It isi in taet. a flattering and friendly compliment paid to New- 
York. The patriotic members of Rutgers behold a country- 
man in every Ann in an, and they cannot conceive w liv the 

o have ■ license tor crossing the Hud- 
son, any more than the 1 1 irlii of the sun. Knowledge belongs 
to the Universe, and tiny who cultivate knowledge are of one 
and the same country over the civilised world. And equal 
courtesy i> every where paid to hs established authorities, and 

to th< •-. Why then attempt to stir up ene- 

against tins universal order I h* those who seek to fo- 
late jealousies did not mistrust themselvei <>r their cause, 

what need of the BSCUlar arm | — that prompt decider of con- 

thal confutes without argument, and dispenses with 

Pot their own honour we would sttg. 
gest to our rival-, that I DOt to deprive Ufl of an sqUS- 

hty of ad ould think there a 

•i us and them ■ di- merit I know those L r « a- 

tleeaen well : i gue — most of the otben 

my students. They are all m< n of distinjnu>hed talents : but 
we have no ob h D in lair competition, and 

let the most desenii in preaarn 



170 



From Prqf6S90f Francis. 

11 I express to you the feelings of my colleagues, as well as 
my own, when I declare the satisfaction we enjoy on witness- 
ing the prospects, flattering beyond our anticipations, which 
bare already presented themselves in this early stage of our 
r. We fondly trust that we shall not disappoint the 
confidence placed in us, nor for a moment forget the obliga- 
tions which it imposes. Whatever instruction we can impart, 
whether from the public chair or in our private capacity, shall 
be always at your service, only requiring in return, that atten- 
tion, without which all efforts, on our part, must prove vain 
and unavailing. We ourselves once occupied the seat of the 
student, and listened to instruction from the chair of the pro- 
fessor. We know that the path of science is rugged and 
strewed with thorns ; but be it remembered, that a noble des- 
tiny awaits our toil, and that private happiness and public re- 
nown are its ample rewards. Your exertions to obtain such 
rewards, by a well sustained and vigorous application, will 
be seconded by every effort in our power which industry 
can effect, and by the best wishes which can spring from the 
heart. 

" Circumstances, unforeseen and uncontrollable, have cre- 
ated a new order of things, and placed us in new relations. 
We are now under our own vine and under our own fig-tree, 
and their is none to make us afraid. 

" Our city, honourably distinguished by a spirit of improve- 
ment in every enterprise which has for its objects, its interests 
and honour, will not be insensible that the cultivation of sci- 
ence and literature is intimately blended with her prosperity, 
and can alone enable her to maintain that ascendency of which 
she is emulous, or render her worthy of it. With an addition 
to our assessments that would not substract a barley-corn from 
each individual, the improvement of our citizens in every use- 
ful and ornamental science may be permanently effected, and 
our inhabitants excel neighbouring cities in intellectual culti- 



171 



they are now superior in physical power ami re- 

" With a statesman at the head of our commonwealth) 
name ia identified with Iter greatness ami glory, we can 

that <>\er our city councils presides a man equally 

distinguished tor private worth and public spirit, who invariably 

ats to the honourable discharge of his official 

3, and his wealth in support of its social character and 
rclati 

" Our connexion with Rutgers College in \ew-.Tcrsey. points 
out r. - iy of adverting to that eminent seat of learn- 

This Institution with which we have 
try become connected, was founded by the pious libera- 
lity of our ancestors, in tin 1 year 1770. In that year, the 
Dutch Reformed Church of New-York and \cw-.lersey, then 
united, formed the plan of erecting a College in Ncw-Bruns- 
uiek. for the purpose of preparing young men for the gospel 
btained a charter from the legislature of New- 
is purpose it has ever since been mainly subscr- 
. and. under the provident and vigilant guardianship of 
oburgfa and Livingston- was reared no inconsiderable 
Dumber of the clergy of that pious and most respectable class 
of christians. Within a few years past, the views of the trus- 
i :darL r '<l with the Buccess of the theological depart- 
d the elements of a liberal educatiou 
are no I by men ! in the branches which 

they nd, and long experienced in the duties of in- 

struction. 

" T aps, the proper occasion to notice 

at lai and qualifications of the gentlemen dele- 

t, who. urith unsparing dil re la- 

acack m 

Id hot 
i pport unity, I emit- 
ted to declare my high estimation of tie ]< arning, I loqu 



172 

•in. I piety of thai a^atinguisbed divine, Dr. Mh.i i dou k, in whom 
I am proud to recognise an early friend] selected by the 

of the -_ r '»\- mora of our College to auperinfend ita into- 
( Ha <ity l«.n L r p r < > Ti 1 1 f l of In- labours, and yielded 
kuetanl consent to ■ separation, though bis object was to pro- 
worthy of his cbarge. Of the profound ma- 
thematical learning of the professor of thai branch, 1 co 
my inability to judge, but bj the suffrages of all the initiated 
in our country, he is placed at their head, and few indeed i v< a 

in Europe dare enter the li-t< of competition. 

M In Conclusion, allow ine to testify to the worth and e.v< I- 

of that eminent citizen* to w hoc munificence we are in- 
debted Tor the to-OrganizatiOH of the academical faculty of our 
1 The field has witnessed his revolutionary services: 

our public councils his legislative care. But I turn from la- 
hour- whtcfa he shared with many, to those private I irtues which 
•an know, save the subjects of Ins bounty. I allude to that 

active benevolence and christian philanthropy, which for more 
than half a century has not ceased to seek occasions for its 
kindness, ami to make the cause of sorrow and suffering its 
own. 

** Let it he the object of your incessant toil — let it he the 
aim of your generOUS ambition, to obtain the token inscribed 
with his honoured nam* 



The following observations, on the benefit of a great me- 
dical school to the city in which it is located, by my colleague 

Professor Gookah, arc so pertinent and intimately conm 

with the objects of this discourse, that I gladly avail myself of 
hi- periie ibjom them. 

•• It may not be aim — to add -nine facta which will enable 
who take an interest in the scientific institutions of our 

1 Kci'.r.RS. 



173 

u HI (1 

') ... *hiefc 

Oil an av« ra<;<\ f WO during 
1 Of ;i t i 1 1 . i — i. .i A tc the 

fcc**"' * ,;>r l ft \ den of 160 

■ tu ^ 1 | rculation a L r r« 

of leotun i m i 
i** 1 ' Uttad to be 500 m number. Allowing 

the mam i the eetneJ espeodtaira) 

that class HT|)8Bl]| during four nmnth* atimdancr Ofl il 

tans I I irfcok rn' il,,. ■onej tbm expended, 

foasimin. the bendi 

06,8 ' Miinl.!< * m «|, ;,„,«•< an 

and the withdrawal of any r.„,Hd< raid,- part of tin supply, 
would be : by much chsire s> and inconvenience among 

aJJ those who „, rl ,> OIll „,„„.,, TM1Lr ,,, !MC 

members of the class. 

Srosa amount , qx ,„!. .! during 

,hf 1 "" l '' lt «'■■ oitj ■ bceeitee b] tin itteacknti on a 

P ub,ir I win i of l.usi- 

ness, with whom they eoBtmue to deeJ, m mnj ineta 

during their lives, and nth influence || alvsay- t.w.urahly 

■ d towards the piece in pjfanfc tin ompleted nek 

education, and •,,, ,] „„„„ r ,,„. „ llf ,. ,, 

'^eurprisinLMliai tke nnftopej i 

'generally, uhr, p r ., r |, an iii-i if iiiiori. 

concur i poeeible Mooemool to itueV 

to pre 

" M ' nsi- 

eWebleebereofiiul. win tie 

administration, mm of the dearest interests of society ; Uiose 

• Thi% k about the amount eapendc \, y 

I claw of Rotfen Medical CoUcf e. 



174 



fore, who engige in discussions arising out of the i 

ing conditions of public institution-. OUghl carefully to inform 

themselves of the onxomata trees which are moel favourmb 
the i mp rov e ment of medicine, before they tide with a party or 

.mi against individual-. 

11 Iii our happy country, every individual poesessedoftfa 
quisite qualifications and character) has the right of teaching 
the result- of hia experience and study to whomsoever his in- 
structions may be acceptable. A body of such individuals, 
whether under the title of University or College, have no other 
claim upon the public than what they derive from the exertion 
of their talents and industry, and the benefits they are capable 
of conferring upon their fellow-citizens. The ( 'ollege may be 
under the patronage of a state, or it may be supported by the 
reputation of its teachers alone : it may derive the right to 
conler scientific honours from the state in which it is located, 
or from another source ; neither circumstance being of more 
than relative or nominal importance, since neither affect the 
excellence of the knowledge imparted, nor lessen the pecuni- 
ary benefits conferred by the institution upon the place in which 
Stablished. Wherever the best lectures are given and 
the greatest degree of talent and enterprise are displayed, then' 
the largest number of pupils will be found. It is their own 
interests thev seek to promote, when they select, and not those 
of the teachers they prefer ; hence every other consideration 
relative to the peculiarities of the institution, is with them 
subordinate to the character of the teachers, and the amount 
of useful knowledge to be acquire d. 

■• With these truths (confirmed by daily experience) inviewi 
it i- amusing enough to hear the complaints and threatenings 
of those whose pecuniary interests are endangered by the 

I and most liberal competition, and who would willingly 
enlist the prejudice ty in their favour, so far as to 

bring m Um BtlOflJg arm of the law to shield them. Not con- 
tent with jHt/roiKH/r and privilege, with the money and the 



173 

have a monopoly of the right 

■ fnaadicine of the liberty 

°f r r ' icovci to be mod oondo- 

leracter ami internets, ami deny to all, except 

so rcee< f genera] benefit, 

it fountains nay become dried op or ex- 

l ,ai,v ' o do some such persons menmee 

- ithra boda i, to prevent citisens of the 

Dnw , Hving by the honourable exertion of their 

Imoat imagine oor Legialatora were not 

i— nor acquainted with the rights of 

Tc I k ai the 1- nalative power thus 

from the i aetcaN of callings 

i" have attained reapectahi- 

might think onraehrea subjeots of 

of living under oor own laws, 

made by our own p v> h,, bold their Btationa only 

ith the rights and dignity of 
I i nd pitiable moat be the con- 

i of those, who in nd in times like ours, 

no better v, ,ii, „„ ,, emnlom of lame 

and ] allingon the legialature for gnats 

°f *" with 

which th 

oftsmaam t pobcy, the eonmlaint is often 

ma<Jc b > I objt «t ion to I rival 

institution, hut . (] j, f . 

established in their nana Were Una the fact, 

aome weight might be a i if : but irbeo it ie known 

fividoali i highly ornanM ami 

to UV mm fund- : that fire of thoae indm- 

duals have been who* lr. 

i 
fifteen or twenty years past been at d ai loicilsMi of 

medicine aj | the nan* 



176 



bit has come from another state <t city of the Union, will not 

the public duly appreciate the disinterest* dncss and trcnuint'- 
nes* of that patriotism, which is so sensitive in relation to 

fori igu influence, as to discover that thou 11 ho have taught as 
Americana andcitiiens of New-York inoneitreet, have l)ecomo 
riated and diefranebised by instructing pupili in another I 

M Hie threats, ami clamours about foreign influence, with 

I view, if possible, to prevent competition oftolmf, are so en- 
tirely ignoble, BO far from the course which men of generous 
emulation should pursue, BO utterly repugnant to the constitu- 
tion of our country and the spirit of the people, that wc can 
scarcely imagine any thimr more absurd, Unless it he. that the 
legislature should orakt the monopoly desired, and proclaim 
that henceforward votaries of science, and men emulous of 
fame, should neither dare to seek tor reputation nor subsistence 
within our borders — but depart to other regions, where mind 
is free — talent at liberty to develope its strength and usefbl- 

uid where the dominion of dulnem cannot, by any possi- 
bility, be rendered legitimate ! 

" But. in the rectitude and wisdom of our fellow-citizens, 

who preside with so much advantage over the interests of the 

fee] the fuUeet confidence \ recollecting the beautifiri 

maxim of Oicero — ' Justis rnutem it fidis hominibus (/</ est, 

BOim) if a fides- hahetur, ut nulla sit in his fraud}. s in)uri<r<iuc 
suspirio ; itaque, his sal ut tin nostram, hisfortunas, his libc- 
ros, rectissimc committi arbitramur.'' " 



THE END. 



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